I absolutely loved and adored this book! I first fell in love with A Merry Little Meet Cute last year and I was afraid that this book wouldn't be able to compare to it but I was pleasantly surprised! This was just as good as the first book in thr series and I'll definitely be re reading this when the winter season comes around!

The third and final story about our last sexy & single boy band member is here. Issac has been a bit of a mystery, only seen glimpses of. He is a young widower, having lost the love of his life, and the last we saw of him, he's decided to move to the mansion in Christmas Notch. But this lonely boy isn't so lonely for long. Sad boy Issac and sunshine Sunny have met in the past - for one very hot and steamy hookup. But now they are thrown together again and their attraction lights up like fireworks instantly.

I loved the first two books so I had very high expectations. Given the heavy topic of life after loss, this one was much more emotionally charged. Both Issac and Sunny are dealing with grief but in different ways. Issac isolates, while Sunny jumps from experience to experience with a smile on her face. I really enjoyed their opposites attraction vibe and of course, there is so much steam, if you're wearing glasses they will fog up. But at the crux of this is a romance about two people finding love with one another and accepting love back into their lives again.

There is a fun underlying local mystery that propels our characters into some fun situations and as always with Julie & Sierra's writing, the banter is some of the best. It's witty, sexy and just has a lot of heart. I am very sad to see this series end but enjoyed the ride while it lasted.

Tropes & Elements:
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
⚡️ Opposites Attract
🏡 Forced Proximity
❤️ Friends with Benefits
🌶️ SPICY
✌🏻 Dual POV

This series just keeps getting better. Jingle Bell Mingle is such a fun conclusion to the Christmas Notch world. Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone did an excellent job of tying up all the little loose ends and breadcrumbs of this series without it feeling like they were ticking off a list. We got the perfect glimpse into each of these couples(and a few side characters) happily ever after.

Sunny Palmer may be my very favorite of the Christmas Notch leading ladies. She is both the sunshine to Isaac’s grump as well as the black cat to his golden retriever. They just… work. I love when a character who feels like they have to be “on” all the time to be liked, included, etc. can really be seen by their partner and just comfortably take up space. With Isaac, whose identity has largely been wrapped up in the sudden death of his wife and his teen boy band persona, it takes a certain muse for him to enjoy life again.

Jingle Bell Mingle could easily be a very cutsie, holiday rom-com. And then you realize when you’re explaining this series to other’s that it has a more salacious side with porn stars, spicy made for TV movies, and a strip club called the North Pole. This most definitely a series I could see myself rereading.

I loved being back in Christmas Notch and so so happy Isaac was our hero, finally getting his happy ending. Is their story just as silly and wild as the others? Yes. But Sunny and Isaac also have heavy emotional baggage that has to be overcome to accept the happiness that the other can give them. This story is wild, silly and sexy and yet also deeply emotional with heavy doses of self reflection and forgiveness. They’re both stuck creatively (she has a screenplay due and he has to write another album) and find unexpected inspiration in the other. Their one night stand, to roommates with benefits to so much more was a fun ride that I didn’t want to get off of.

Christmas book
Must read in a series to get all the characters
POV changes a lot
Pornstars x sad musicians

Missed the plot didn't love the book and there was a lot going on

Thank you NetGalley for the arc

In the third edition of the spicy Christmas Notch books we follow Sunny and Isaac as Sunny overcomes some challenges with her family and Isaac navigates returning to romance and love following the death of his wife several years prior. The two of them had a very exciting threesome two years ago, but when they reconnect at Bee at Nolan’s wedding sparks fly and turns out it wasn’t just a one night stand.

Despite the cheery cover, this is the deepest and most emotional of the series so far, as we learn more of Isaac’s inner world. Of course it’s a steamy romance with spicy scenes, but it’s also about how we navigate grief and moving on.

A JINGLE BELL MINGLE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Such a cute ending to the Christmas Notch series! Sunny, our makeup artist/pornstar/screenwriter accidentally sold a screenplay to the Hope network based off of old town fables, and Isaac has recently relocated to Christmas Notch to write his last contracted album. With their history of one night stand, she finds herself as his new roommate while they work out their creative struggles. I would absolutely recommend reading the other books before this one if you have not. This is like a hallmark porn, there is the heart and the heat. A super cute, easy read that flies by. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Summary: What happens when there’s no room at the inn and you and your potentially demonic cat become roommates with your grumpy one-night stand? Part-time adult film actress/one-time adult film director/makeup artist Sunny Palmer has accidentally sold her very first screenplay to the Hope Channel. That was six months ago. Fast forward to a looming deadline, an uninspired Sunny has returned to the source of her inspiration in Christmas Notch, Vermont, to immerse herself in the local Christmas miracle on which her fever dream of a movie pitch was based.
Isaac Kelly, former boy band heartthrob and the saddest boy in the music biz, is the latest owner of the town’s historic mansion. After his years of heartbreak following his young wife’s death, Isaac’s record label is done waiting for new music. What better place to attempt his first holiday album than a snow-covered mansion where he can become a hermit in peace?
But 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 to stay with him at his home. Surely the place is big enough that he’ll hardly see her or her unhinged cat. But when the two discover they’re both creatively blocked, they make a handshake deal: Isaac will help Sunny hunt down the truth behind the local lore, and Sunny will find Isaac a new muse.
And with these two opposites under one roof, there’s no way this jingle bell mingle could go off script…right?

Review: It does not read as a stand alone, you do need to read the previous books to get this. This reads VERY all over the place. Sadly not for me.

This was a great book! I loved the first book a lot so getting to read this one felt like an honor and it was a true pleasure. It was dirty, healing and a really sweet love story. Isaac, the MMC, is going through his feels dealing with his wifes passing, while Sunny is experiencing true writers block. Having them work through these issues felt like a refreshing plot and conflict that I don't often see in romance novels, so I didn't feel like pulling my hair while reading it. If I am being honest, I didn't realize other books in this series had come out and so seeing it on Netgalley I was excited to snag it. And it has definitely made me want to get the others previous in the series. I like that even though I didn't follow the order they were written, I am still down to go back and read how the other couples got their happy ending.

The only reason that this book doesn't get five stars, is that the beginning weirdly felt slow even though the spice was very quick to start. It took until about halfway before I was really engrossed and needed to see how it ended.

The spice was great, the plot overall was amazing and I am definitely recommending it to others!

Julie and Sierra wrote a truly unhinged but lovely holiday romance.

Isaac Kelly is a former boy band member who has been existing in his Sad Boy bubble since his wife passed away. He lost his muse and can’t write music and he has completely isolated himself from everyone.
Sunny Palmer is a part-time actress, one-time adult film director, makeup artist, <spoiler> diaper dynasty heir</spoiler> who has somehow successfully pitched a movie to the Hope Channel but now has to actually write the screenplay.

When both end up in Christmas Notch for their friends’ wedding, through a series of romance events, Isaac invites Sunny and her cat to join him in the town’s historic mansion. Hijinks ensue, but also a deep meaningful connection between Sunny and Isaac.

I found this story and its characters to be delightful. It’s a sexy romp that also provides a nuanced and thoughtful discussion of the grief and how we process it. But also ripped tights, gingerbread lotion (iykyk), proposals and Mr. Tumnus wrapping everyone around his finger.

3.75!!! also recommend reading the first two books prior to this one for the best experience!! we have an opposites attract, grumpy x sunshine, christmas novel!!

Another Sierra Simone-Julie Murphy gem. A Jingle Bell Mingle follows the spicy hijinx of former boy band heart-throb/widower Isaac and adult film star turned script writer Sunny as they investigate the origin of a Christmas Notch legend. Whilst uncovering the truth (and hidden secrets) of Christmas Notch lore, Isaac and Sunny have to learn to navigate the grief they have both been carrying with them. A Jingle Bell Mingle is a satisfying ending to our journey to Christmas Notch, VT.

I impatiently wait each year for these books to come out and this year's installment of Christmas notch romance did not disappoint! So fun, loved the setting up Isaac to find his muse plot, perfect!

I read the first 2 books in this trilogy., so I figured it would be a slam dunk that I’d like this one. I was disappointed. Shortly into the book, I realized this wasn’t for me. The side tangent plot lines and hijinks just didn’t land well this time around.

I liked A Holly Jolly Ever After. I liked A Merry Little Meet Cute as well. I was really hoping to like A Jingle Bell Mingle. After all, what is not to like about a steamy Christmas romance with a plus-sized main character.
Unfortunately, whether from my having already read two book by this author, or from just plain not being in the mood, I was really let down by A Jingle Bell Mingle. In the books defense, I knew by 10% of the way through the book that this might not be the one for me.
From “that wet squeeze of a cunt” on one page to missing his dead wife on the next, Isaac’s characterization was really jarring to me from the get go. I would be willing to give Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone another go in the future, but this one was a miss for me.

-opposite attract
-grympy sunshine
-christmas

This is the third book in the series A Christmas Notch. It is a delightful and funny holiday romance novel. The characters, Sunny and Isaac, are well-developed and relatable. It was enjoyable to see the characters from the first two books make appearances in this one.

The book is quite lengthy, but it is necessary to wrap up all the loose ends from the previous books.

When a casual flirtation develops into something more profound than a one-night stand, Sunny finds herself in a predicament. She is staying in a dilapidated room with a faulty heating system. After a passionate night with Isaac, he generously offers her the use of his spacious home while she is in Vermont. Little do they know that their connection will extend beyond physical intimacy, leading them to support and comfort each other through their personal struggles.

This is not merely a lighthearted holiday romance; it delves into deeper themes. Both Isaac and Sunny grapple with complex issues related to death and loss. As they navigate their emotions and confront their pasts, they discover the true meaning of love and companionship in the face of adversity.

Overall, this book provides a satisfying conclusion to the series. The story and characters are engaging, and the exploration of deeper emotional themes adds depth to the narrative.

The first two in this series are so heartwarming and wonderful, I own them in hardcovers and they're part of my Christmas decorations and required christmas reading every year. I was absolutely gobsmacked to receive this eARC and cannot wait to buy a hard copy to add to my Julie Murphy + Sierra Simone christmas collection. What fun stories with spice, holiday vibes, and cozy atmospheric settings. I'm such a huge fan and so thankful to have gotten to read and enjoy this wonderful romance.

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm so sad that this series is over! I've really enjoyed the time I've been able to spend in Christmas Notch with its delightful rotating cast of adult film stars and directors, former boy band icons, Hope Channel cast and crew, and quirky locals. Our female lead is Sunny Palmer, adult film actress/director/makeup artist and best friend to Bee from the first book in the series, who has managed to accidentally sell a script to the Hope Channel about a very romantic Christmas Notch legend involving a mailman, an angel, and an isolated cabin. The male main character is Isaac Kelly, the last unattached member of former boy band INK, who has been in deep mourning for his late wife for years and is just trying to focus on recording the last album required by his contract and then going back to his home in Malibu and his hermit-like lifestyle. He and Sunny had a threesome that was alluded to in one of the earlier books, and they happen to match again on a dating app during the reception of Bee and Nolan's wedding, where they decide to go for another one-night stand. Sunny is staying in a truly disgusting motel in Christmas Notch and Isaac manages to convince her to come stay in the huge mansion he bought and is in the process of renovating. This book is, if possible, even spicier than the first two, or maybe it just feels that way because these two have such a major spark so quickly in the story. They decide to help each other - Isaac needs help finding a new muse to write his last album and Sunny needs someone to help her stay on track to get her screenplay written. Of course they are SUPER into each other but both dealing with a lot of stuff (mostly related to grief/bereavement) and they struggle with this arrangement. I loved their friendship and their intense attraction, and I also really loved Sunny's cat Mr. Tumnus. A fitting end to the series (with so many cameos from beloved characters). Also, there are some very hot librarians, which I appreciated!

This book was an ARC from NetGalley. This is the third main book in the series following the final member of INK. This book made sure to bring as much spice as the previous stories, but was missing some true staples that made the previous books more enjoyable. First, this story didn't involve the crazy, entertaining band of characters that brought some zany humor until the final third of the book. Additionally, this story did not center around filming a movie in Christmas Notch, so a lot of the comical settings and scenes involving "remaking" classic Christmas stories into their After Dark brand that were staples in the other books, were not present. The story felt slow, and several cycles of will they won't there. It was an enjoyable return to Christmas Notch, but not my favorite of the series. #netgalley #avon #christmasnotch #ink #happliyeverafter

I must say, my expectations were low coming into this book. I have read the rest of the series and didn't really love them. The novellas were very cute, though. Sierra Simone is one of my all-time favorite authors, but these books were just far from what I've come to expect from her.

Then comes A Jingle Bell Mingle. I feel like Murphy and Simone really hit their stride with this one! It had me feeling ALL the emotions, and I absolutely adored it. It was funny, sexy, emotional, heartbreaking, and immensely beautiful. I loved the side characters, the cold-case-esque storyline, and Sunny and Isaac were EVERYTHING.

I hope Murphy and Simone do more like this one. It was a beautiful ending that really outshone the ones before it.