The Final Book!!! Christmas Notch’s ending is finally here. I am so sad to see the ending of this series. But what a way to go! When Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone get together you know it will be a well written, a well developed and a spicy as heck book! We finally get Sunny’s and Isaac’s book. We know that Isaac is the sad broody former heartthrob widower from the previous books and we have Sunny’s our adult film makeup artist turned screenplay writer! In this book we have sunny still in Christmas Notch to write her first screenplay. She’s has pitched it and sold it by accident when she was positing as the notorious Teddy Ray Fletchers assistant. Now she needs to write it! She has made a deal with Isaac she will help him find his muse so he can write his last album and he will help her find out the true story behind the infamous story that was told by one of the local dancers!
I loved this story. While this one doesn’t really have the background of a movie being filled we still have the mystery of them running around trying to figure out what really happened to get the true story so Sunny can write this screenplay and the muse dates. I found myself laughing and crying throughout the story. The spicy scenes are exactly what you expect from this duo and were fantastic! I am truely sad that this series is over. This will be one I come back and reread around Christmas time over and over. I really hope they decide to write something else together becuase it would be something I would pick up without question!

Love this book! I loved a merry little meet cute and this follow up absolutely met my expectations. It is a cute and smutty story about finding love through grief, creativity and Christmas miracles

This book made me sob and laugh all at the same time. The conversations had about grief and moving on from deaths of loved ones truly touched me as recently 3 close relatives of mine passed away. This book was also very funny and sexy but also a thought-provoking tearjerker.

So sad to see Christmas Notch and its pornstar guests go.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

I enjoyed the prior two books in this series by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone, and this made for a great third book. I love a holiday romance, and this brought on just enough of cozy vibes while Sunny and Issac try to overcome their creative blocks and produce a new Christmas album and Christmas movie script, respectively.

I LOVE these books for their body representation and positivity, and this one also introduced them both being bi, very casually and I LOVED that. I crave this progressiveness out of books. Additionally, and I think that this was the best yet in the character and relationship development. And the spice. So. Good.

I'll definitely reread this one before Christmas!

I will always be seated and SAT for a Murphy-Simone holiday collab! The previous installments in this world have been the cutest holiday reads each year so this one being another top read was no surprise! It's full of hilarious banter, great characters, and beautiful writing and it has that perfect Hallmark holiday feel with an extra dose of spice and heat to keep you warm this winter! Check it out when it releases this fall!

The Vibes: roommates with benefits, widower angst, porn star/boy bander, tons of banging; tons of emotional constipation

Heat Index: 8/10

The Basics:

Five years, former boy bander (and People's Sexiest Man Alive) Isaac Kelly suddenly lost his wife Brooklyn—and he'll never love again. Two years ago, Isaac had the first sexual experience since his wife died (I mean, his only sexual experience with anyone OTHER than his wife) in the form of a threesome with porn stars Jack and Sunny. NOW, he's back in Christmas Notch, moping in a mansion as he tries to write a Christmas album. Sunny's in town too, NOT moping as she tries to write a Christmas movie script. It's all too convenient for them to become temporary roommates... and maybe roommates with benefits. But all Isaac can offer Sunny is sex—and while that seems like a good idea to a woman who can't say "I love you", once she starts feeling feelings... It might not be enough.

The Review:

I knew this would be good. But it was better than good. It was the perfect culmination of the Christmas Notch series—the rare series that really just kept getting better. The three main books are all great, but each one was superior to the last for me (the novellas are fab too, but I need to rethink and rank them separately).

They're Christmas-y (but not so Christmas-y that I at all regretted reading this in July... I'll just reread it closer to the date). They're SUPER hot (more on that below). They're body-positive, sex worker positive (Sunny is no longer active in the industry once this story really begins, but she has no bad feelings about it) and deal with actual issues while maintaining a fun, heartwarming tone. Oh, and they're fucking hilarious. It's surprisingly hard to find romcom books that are actually funny, but—here you go!

What makes this book so special is that, while you have the framing of Sunny trying to find Isaac his muse while Isaac tries to help her write her script (almost like... a muse...), this is really a character piece. So much time is spent building up Isaac and Sunny's relationship. While I kind of refuse to call this "friends to lovers" because the reality is that these two are super into each other from the jump—albeit moreso physically than emotionally in the beginning—you do truly believe in their bond. Their emotional connection is just as intense as their sexual connection, which is, um, pretty intense.

And dude. If you read the previous books first—not strictly necessary but HIGHLY recommended—you'll see that Isaac is just... so depressed. Like, not leaving his house depressed. Ironically, his threesome with Jack and Sunny kind of jolted him back to life? And that's all it's supposed to be. So he's not in complete "wallowing in grief" mode here, but he is still very sad, and really only half-enjoying life. But Sunny is by no means a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. She has her own responsibilities. She has her own goals. And she has her own problems—if this book has any weakness (and it's minor) it's that Sunny's problems aren't quite as dramatic or compelling as Isaac's. But they're still valid, and they're integral to her growth. Point is: Sunny has her own deal, and Isaac helps her with her deal just as much as she helps him with his, and they also both have a lot of growing to do.

But anyway, what Isaac's deal gets us is a lot of sweet, SWEET angst. Not the level of angst you'll find in some of Sierra Simone's darker works. Just enough angst to have me feeling the fucking emotions, though. There's a moment late in this book that is the conflict I was SO hoping would come up. A conflict that is honestly quite real, but still a gut punch. And soooo satisfying to see resolved. We may have a "snowmobile for your love" moment. Can neither confirm or deny.

Finally, it's a great time to see everyone in Christmas Notch together again. Bee and Nolan! Winnie and Kallum! The North Pole dancers! Luca and Angel! Krysta and Addison! And we get some really good Teddy Ray and Steph content. I love Teddy Ray. Such a unique character. Rarely do you get a "wholesome porn peddler" stepfather figure in a contemporary romance series, and seeing him get his HEA with Steph was incredibly sweet.

The Sex:

RIDICULOUSLY hot. All of these books are hot, but there was something about Sunny and Isaac falling in love, each encounter becoming more intimate, while remaining in such deep denial about their feelings...

I mean, photo booth sex... creative usage of gingerbread lotion (a big thing in this series)... butt stuff with the HERO as the recipient, something we don't see enough of in m/f romance... And Isaac is a bit bossy! Which we love to see!

You really feel like these two can be honest with their feelings in the bedroom, without words. Which I am SUCH trash for.

Also, loved how casual the book was about Isaac and Sunny both being bi, their threesome with Jack, Isaac being pushed onto dates (by Sunny) with men and women. It's just the norm, which is in fact standard for pretty much all Sierra Simone books. Love.

Anyway, this is great, a perfect finale for a series I've loved and can't recommend enough. Read it during the holiday season. Read it now. Read it next summer. I mean, read it ASAP because you'll love it. But I might do an entire series reread around Christmas, to be real. These are CLASSICS.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jingle Bell Mingle was the perfect addition to the Christmas Notch series. I loved A Merry Little Meet Cute and the novellas but Holly Jolly Ever After disappointed me, so I was really hoping for this one to give more of the same vibes as the others and it absolutely did! :)

The story follows Isaac (Sad Boy Band member and widower) and Sunny (Bee's best friend) in a roommates to lovers, forced proximity that was absolutely adorable and funny. I loved their storyline w/ both of them trying to feel inspired to create a new album and a screenplay by a deadline.

I will always be a sucker for when a character is always trying to set up another character because neither of them realize they have feelings for each other, so I was here for that whole thing :) And I loved that all of the Christmas Notch characters made appearances.

This was definitely a favorite and I hope there's more coming for this series! :)

I really enjoyed the previous two books in this series and I adore visiting Christmas Notch. The cast of characters is so endearing and diverse that I can’t help but to be sucked right in. Unfortunately, A Jingle Bell Mingle was my least favorite installment to date. While I love Sunny and Isaac, their relationship felt so forced and I didn’t feel that they meshed well together. I’d have loved to see more of Teddy and Steph, not because I prefer their characters, but because I felt that Sunny and Isaac’s interactions lacked the chemistry that was present in earlier books.

We're back in Christmas Notch, Vermont.

Former adult film actress Sunny Palmer accidentally sold a screenplay to the Hope Channel about Christmas Notch lore. That was months ago, and now she's feeling uninspired and returning to the source to get to the bottom of the local Christmas miracle.

Former boy band heartthrob and sad boy, Isaac Kelly, is attempting his first holiday album, and what's better inspiration than a snow-covered mansion where he can become a hermit in peace?

After their best friends’ wedding ends with them together in a truly horrific motel room, Isaac convinces Sunny to stay with him at his mansion, it's huge so it's not like he's ever really going to see her or her demonic cat, right? When the two discover they’re both creatively blocked, they make a deal to help each other out –Isaac will help Sunny solve the mystery behind the local lore, and Sunny will find Isaac a new muse.

This duo is my favorite of the series I think. I love their humor throughout, and the support they bring each other to their respective passions. I also thought the discussions around grief were well done and so relatable without getting too deep or glossing over it like some stories do.

It's such a fun read! Witty, sexy, and heartwarming. It's a great wrap-up to a fun and unique series. While they can be read alone, the whole series is great, and I highly recommend reading them all. Combining something so wholesome with the adult film industry is hilarious and so smart. I ate it up.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

Thank you to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've read both Christmas Notch books prior to this one and really enjoyed them, and the third certainly did not disappoint either! These authors know what they have in this lane and they're executing it very well. I really enjoy the titles in this universe and how each story builds into the next with this group of friends and their relationships. If this is the end of the series, I will be sad to see it go but it will also feel organic to end here. Four stars!

Here ye here ye - this is the third installment of the Christmas notch series. Like the two books before it we have a sizzling Christmas novel where we get the final Issac and Sunny story. A perfect Christmas in July read to round out the series.

Oh my! 😂 This is the third, and final book in A Christmas Notch series. I haven’t read the first two, but I think that would have really helped me out at the beginning. Because other than reading a lot of sex (like, a lot!) I couldn’t get the names straight until a couple chapters in. There were just so many characters. But once I realized who the two main characters actually were, this became a really sweet (still incredibly spicy 🌶️) love story. This story begins and ends with Christmas, and takes place in a perfect little town called Christmas Notch. I loved the deep dive the characters did to find out about a mystery/miracle/romance from the 1940s that happened right in this very town at Christmas. But this wasn’t just a sweet story it was also really funny. 3.5 ⭐️

A strong Christmas Notch finale!
First I want to say, a spicy "Hallmark" book (movie) is exactly what ive been yelling for all these years. When i found "A Merry Little Meet Cute" on audio the week before Christmas 2022 I said "OMGee a Christmas miracle. my favorite cliche movies made into a book, add top notch written spice?"
ALL THE CHEFS KISSES. Im sad I wont be reading this one for the firsts time the week before Christmas, but I couldn't give up the chance to read it early!
Christmas Notch is the perfect blend of romance, love, holiday, spice.
Isaac is the 3rd member of the 90s Boyband INK. His wife passed away and he has become the recluse of the group.
Attending Nolan and Bees wedding might not have been the best idea when he decides to hook up with Sunny. The makeup artist, porn star, turned writer of the next Hope Channel Christmas movie.
Sunny is so delightful and I'm glad she got to be the final love lead. The storyline and character development was very well done, and even though i expected Issacs book to be a little more sad, i was pleasantly surprised that the story managed to portray his grief without changing the overall feeling of the story. I'm sad that Christmas Notch is finished but I'm glad i can read them every Christmas season.
I gave this book 4 stars only because unless you have read the earlier books, the list of characters that are in the book can be overwhelming and hard to keep track of. I honestly love every single character though. <3

A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone is a fabulously fun Christmas mystery solving rom-com that'll get you in the holiday spirit and maybe the mood for some other very strange and a little spicy things. It's got a grumpy ex-boy bander suffering from crushing grief and a quirky ex adult film start turn screenwriter who are both stuck in a rut. They end up helping each other out, and sparks fly as they both dig through some very emotional issues. If you're looking for steamy, slightly spicy, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after, this is your book!
My wish was granted with an A R C for this one and I was thrilled to continue devouring this series.

I absolutely loved this book! It's the perfect conclusion to the Christmas Notch series. I have been wanting to see Sunny step into the spotlight and I'm so glad we finally got that with this book! Sunny and Issac are such complex characters that make for the perfect grumpy/sunshine story. They meshed very well together. I adored their story and I think this is now my favorite book of the series! It has so much humor and heart, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for allowing me to read this book ahead of release in exchange for my honest opinion.

Really cute, spicy Christmas romance with a humming of mystery. Sunny and Isaac were absolute perfection and I really enjoyed their back stories and the connection to one another is intense and electric. Perfect cozy and yet 🔥 read for the holiday season!

What a delightful and steamy conclusion to the Christmas Notch series! This book continues the charming blend of humor, spice, and emotional depth that we've come to love.

Sierra Simone brings her signature depth to the story, and I feel like you cantell which parts she drove because they go beyond the usual rom-com fluff (which is also fun, don't get me wrong!). Sunny and Isaac’s story had me laughing out loud with its witty banter, but it also tugged at my heartstrings with its exploration of love and grief. However, I did find the prolonged emotional hesitation between the characters a little frustrating, as it sometimes felt like a plot device to keep the story going.

I’m genuinely sad to see the end of the Christmas Notch series. These characters have become like old friends—quirky, comforting, and fun. The small-town charm, reminiscent of Gilmore Girls, combined with emotional depth and spicy romance, makes this series special. Saying goodbye to these characters feels bittersweet, but it’s been a wonderful journey.

Overall, this is a great read for anyone who enjoys a mix of humor, heart, and heat in their romance novels. If you’re a fan of the series, you won’t be disappointed with how it wraps up. I’d rate it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

I loved this spicy Christmas story! Definitely got me excited for the holidays and I can’t wait to pass around this title to my family and friends who love similar types of books.

3 1/2 steamy stars rounded up to 4!

This is the 3rd and final installment in the Christmas Notch series. I definitely recommend reading the first two books so you’re not confused by all the side characters.

Fans of the other books in this series will be happy with this one as well! A Jingle Bell Mingle follows Isaac and Sunny’s story. Expect a lot of steamy scenes and all the colorful characters from the other books.

I really liked Sunny and Isaac’s backstories and how they found love while navigating their own grief. Sunny’s crazy cat added some funny antidotes as well. All in all I enjoyed the book! A little Christmas-y cheer for anytime of year!

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

"Jingle Bell Mingle" by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone was the perfect read to get me into the Christmas in July spirit. The roommates-turned-lovers plot line was a great fit for the story, and I enjoyed following the journey of Sunny and Isaac as they navigated their own paths of grief. Sunny, who had lost her parents at a young age, and Isaac, a widower, dealt with their grief in different ways, but watching them come together and support each other was a touching aspect of the book.

In addition to the main plot, there was a captivating side story involving a historical Christmas mystery that added an element of adventure and intrigue to the narrative. As the characters tried to unravel the story of the mailman and the widower from the 1940s, the reader was taken on a journey of discovery and mystery.

While I found the multiple side stories a bit overwhelming at times and difficult to follow, I still enjoyed the overall cute and spicy read that "Jingle Bell Mingle" provided. It was a great palate cleanser with its mix of heartwarming moments, romance, and a touch of holiday magic. Despite the slight confusion caused by the various subplots, I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a festive and engaging read.