A review by patelyne
A Jingle Bell Mingle by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy

4.5

Time to bid a fond farewell to Christmas Notch

It might be a little slower paced than others in the series, but I think this one was my favorite of the three

I love angst with a happy ending, and sad boy Isaac and Sunny delivered

He needs a muse to get him through his last contracted album so he he ‘rot in peace’ still (understandably) distraught over losing his wife almost five years ago. 

She is trying (another) new direction in her life, and needs help to solve an old town legend as inspiration for her first screen play 

He’s part of an online amateur detective server, and so perfect for her needs. And she? Well, she could be his muse, if she believed, but instead vows to find him one 

When a past one night stand becomes a second night stand, and then from there a roomies with bennies situationship, things get emotionally messy. They bond over old grief (her parents, his wife) and extravagant childhoods (his mom a movie star, her family’s diaper empire). Demon cat Mr Tumnus is also quite a character all on his own. 

I loved the truth behind the Christmas miracle story, as sweet as it was tragic. It was a good mirror to them both deciding if they should shoot for love after the losses they’d felt in their own past.

And I don’t mean to make it sound like a downer - there is still plenty of humor and hotness to balance the angst!

It’s always great to see past characters return in series like this too. Watching Teddy and Steph work towards a happily ever after was as satisfying as the main characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon/Harper for the arc!