Holiday Christmas was so much more than I was expecting. I thought I was in for a hallmark film Christmas wedding type story (and would have been delighted with that too!) but there was romance, mystery, suspense and a little bit of thriller.

The POV alternates between two friends, Gwen and Jenny. I’ve only read dual POVs that alternate between the romantic leads or a big ensemble cast so it was fun to see the friend’s alternating perspectives. And it was best of both worlds because you got the loveliness of Gwen’s established relationship and the fun of Jenny’s developing relationship with a trove of tropes that checked a lot of boxes for me (grumpy x sunshine, one bed, fake dating to one up a bad ex - and for the purposes of getting cake - the best reason for fake dating??)

The author offers open door spice and closed door versions of the story. I read the spicy version and it was great - there’s some long distance phone sex which is really well done!

Overall, a lovely read especially if you’re after some a little bit ~more~ than a romance. Highly recommend!

Super cute and fun holiday read!

I liked this book a lot, and this dual pov was something I had never seen before. We basically follow two different love stories, both through the eyes of the fmcs. This was so fun, and the writing was honestly top tier!

I would have loved to rate this book higher, but seasonal reads tend to be harder for me to rate very highly 😕 That being said, all I wanted to do while reading this was curl up next to the fireplace at home (I never use it), drink hot coco (my coffee machine is broken), and kick my legs like a little girl (actually did do this hehe)!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the eARC!

I was so honored to have ARC read the spicy version of Holiday Wedding.  This is my second book by Dr. Melissa Dymond and I will continue to read her books.  I enjoyed how cute the story was and how best friends end up liking each other.  The banter, the spicy scene was just perfect, the mystery and suspense just made this a perfect read.  I know you will fall in love with these characters and the story. Enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Very suspenseful comedy romance . You get both couples PoV with Jenny and Gwen. It was an absolute wonderful read

This is the fun, sweet little romance you've been looking to read going into the holiday season!
Tropes: grumpyXsunshine, one bed, romantic suspense, and a little bit spicy

While this one may be alittle bit predictable, it was a fun book to read. This is the sequel to Holiday Star, which I didn't read and wish that I did before I read this one honestly. Holiday Wedding follows the same couple as the first book, Gewn and Caleb, and also introduces a new romance between their friends Jenny and Dean. The banter is soooo good and the chemistry is palpable.

I love how everything came together at the end. If you like holiday romances, this one fits the bill for sure. Plus, the cover art is adorable!

This book was amazing! I really love Dr Melissa Demond’s books because she does a spicy version and a closed door version of her books and I really appreciate how she pays attention to her readers!

Just in time for Christmas season ! Get warmed up with a book from all the spice ! Would definitely recommend to friends !

Holiday Wedding by Melissa Dymond
4.5/5

Oh where to begin. I was lucky enough to read Holiday Star as an ARC and it turned me into the Christmas romance seeker I am today. I kid you not. Me and Christmas just did not go in the same sentence, I’m a scrooge. Anyway, after I read Holiday Star it not only turned me into wanting to read more about Christmas romances, but it also put me in a slump because I couldn’t find anything nearly as good as Holiday Star. BUT IT’S OKAY! Dymond is releasing book 2 and I am all over it….

Gwen and Caleb - my absolute favorite couple. Power couple. Couple goals, etc. But also Jenny and Dean, equally as good but Gwen and Caleb have my heart I’m afraid. Great character descriptions once again, and fantastic use of the dual PoV between Gwen and Jenny. I absolutely adore a dual PoV as it gives more of an insight into the other person rather than just an assumption.

Dymond has such a beautiful way of writing and describing characters that it is really quite hard to not fall head over heels. She’s descriptive, pays attention to smaller details and just knocks it out the park really. Romance is her genre for sure, especially with a little bit of spice she likes to add!

Now I have been lucky enough to ARC read the last 3 of Dymonds books, and when I say they are all worth it, they really are. I thoroughly enjoy Dymonds writing and it won't ever get boring for me. So much so, I have ro get myself physical copies to put on the trophy shelf!

If you love:
*Dual PoVs
*He falls first
*Forced proximity
*Good Girl
*One bed
Then this book is for you. Go read Holiday star and preorder yourself a copy of Holiday Wedding ready for when you finish Holiday Star.

First would like to say many thanks for Melissa letting me be an ARC reader for this wonderful Christmas Story. I did not realise it was the follow up to Holiday Star, which I will now definitely have to read to see how Gwen and Caleb came to be.

The description of this book was what drew me to why I wanted to read it so much and it didn't disappoint. I particularly, loved reading the story from the points of view of Gwen and Jenny, and of course loved that there was extra content available to have the points of views of Caleb and Dean at certain integral moments of the story.

The book was so well written and it was difficult to put down, which is why it was consumed in just under a day😊

Even though I have yet to read Holiday Star, it was still nice to read Gwen & Caleb's story and how they were coping to the changes that were starting to take place in their lives, particularly with regards to the main scenario that they having to endue throughout this book, especially when events take a slightly sinister turn and kept you in suspense as to the outcome. Throughout the story I did go through various scenarios as to who the Stalker was and what could eventually happen and was caught off guard slightly when they were finally revealed.

Also loved... loved Jenny and Dean's story and hope that there is a continuation of their journey further down the line, as there seems to be so much more to their dynamic. The way it was revealed how Dean was so broken and Jenny was able to see through this to bring him out and eventually let Jenny know why he was like he was to her was gorgeous 🥰

A must read, particularly now that the Holiday Season will soon be in full swing ❄️🎄❄️🎄

❤️Enemies to Lovers 😘
❤️Grumpy x Sunshine
❤️Forced Proximity
❤️One Bed

I got this story as an ARC from NetGalley and I am annoyed with myself that I didn’t have time to read Holiday Star. I mean if you don’t, you wouldn’t miss too much, as there is a great sprinkling of details so I understood past events and why things were the way they were. But I will definitely be reading it now!

Meeting Gwen, Caleb, Jenny and Dean was a super cute start to this holiday romance. Gwen and Caleb are the ones getting hitched but that’s not the only holiday romance 👀 I like seeing all the characters involved in wedding prep whilst trying to diffuse a stalker situation. They showed strengths, we learnt their insecurities and with some their trauma. Dean and Jenny attempt to put their differences aside to help the people they love most and this leads to some very cute, pretty spicy situations!

A Holiday Wedding was an highly enjoyable cute Christmas read with high stakes and I am looking forward to reading more!

I know the MCs are Caleb and Gwen... but I was living for all things Jenny and Dean. Aside from that, I adored this read... the holiday theme, wedding, obstacles, snowstorms... and for me... the unexpected twist towards the end. It's not just a romance. It's so much more.
I really enjoyed how this was written as well. The count-down style. The sporadic character art through our the beginning of some of the chapters gave me something a little extra to look forward to and help picture it all.
Highly recommend this if readers love suspenseful romance with the holiday vibes!

This was a cute, quirky and funny RomCom. Just a heartfelt read but I did enjoy it. The main charters were likeable and you wanted them to end up together and happy. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this cute read.

This book was so sweet and unexpectedly emotional. It is the second in a series, but I read it without reading the previous one and had no trouble with it. I initially requested the ARC because the author is a fellow physician mom, but it turned out to also be a fun read, well-written, with an exciting side plot (don't want to spoil it!). I also found the medical aspects to be very refreshing in that they were clearly written by someone who knew what they were talking about. If you like contemporary romance, forced proximity, a MMC who is stoic but secretly smitten and wonderful examples of female friendship - you should read this book!

This was absolutely a 4.5 read for me. I was so happy to get back to Gwen and Caleb. They’re such a cute couple.

This is a follow up from Holiday Star which I absolutely adored! Gwen and Caleb are planning their wedding except Gwen doesn’t get to do much planning because she signed up for a conference where she’s going to be a speaker and this is around the time where many decisions have to be made but she’s not able to be close to home, making these decisions with Caleb and their families.

Now being out in the spotlight, Gwen is having to deal with rumors and fans not liking her because they’re taking someone like Caleb, who is hot off the market and that is something that she is not used to. Does it put a strain on their relationship, absolutely.

I loved how the author didn’t just make this a cute book about planning a wedding. You also have the point of view of Jenny,Gwen‘s best friend,and her having to deal with Dean, Caleb’s bodyguard. They did not like each other so you have a lot of great banter.

Aside from that you have mystery and suspense. I can’t get over how the author does all of this and it just flowed in the book.

I would absolutely recommend this by stating to start with Holliday Star and then jump into Holiday Wedding. You will absolutely falling in love with these characters.

In the follow up, we get to see more of Gwen and Caleb, but also Jenny (and Dean).

Jenny was a lot og fun in the first book, but she was fabulous in the second one!
The banter and chemistry between Jenny and Dean was just great!
Was the Christmas setting necessary for the mainstory? No. But did I like even more so, yes!

There's plenty of spice and a dash of Christmas sparkles! Oh and the pictures are so cute!

Post on IG (one_fairy_tale_at_the_time) nov 15. 2024

🌟Dual Couples
🌟Doctor + Celeb
🌟Journalist + Bodyguard
🌟Second Chance
🌟Active Recovery
🌟Stalker
🌟PTSD
🌟Kidnapping
🌟Grief/Loss
🌟He Falls First
🌟Secret Pining
🌟HEA
🌟🌶️🌶️🌶️

In *Holiday Wedding*, we get to experience the heartwarming stories of two couples, connected through friendship and told from the perspectives of two strong women. Their journeys are filled with romance, struggle, a touch of angst, and plenty of sweet moments, making it an enjoyable and engaging read.

First, we follow Gwen and Caleb as they plan their second-chance wedding. Caleb, a famous actor, living in sobriety and deeply in love, wants nothing more than to protect Gwen from the consequences of fame—something that had once caused him to walk away. Meanwhile, Gwen, a driven and accomplished doctor, wrestles with feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy and being in the spotlight. Together, they navigate their future and I found their story to be a beautiful exploration of love overcoming obstacles.

Gwen’s childhood best friend, Jenny, is an entertainment journalist who covers Caleb and still carries the weight of guilt and shame for a past mistake that hurt both Caleb and Gwen. On the other side, Dean, Caleb’s bodyguard, hasn’t let go of his anger toward Jenny for that very misstep. However, Dean’s feelings toward her are anything but straightforward. Their dynamic is filled with tension and unspoken emotions, yet also threaded with care, making their relationship complex and deeply compelling. I absolutely adored them and loved every time they were on page together.

Throughout the story, an undercurrent of danger and suspense weaves through the characters’ lives, ultimately rising to the surface and testing their resilience. *Holiday Wedding* deftly navigates themes of loss, guilt, forgiveness, and personal growth, all tied together by the enduring power of love. It’s a fantastic holiday romance with a satisfying HEA that I really enjoyed, perfect for readers looking for a bit of drama, sweetness, and heart.

I am IMMEDIATELY adding more Melissa Dymond books to my TBR because this one was amazing!! This was such a cute and suspenseful holiday romance. It was perfectly balanced and I absolutely adored both couples in this book.

We have Caleb, a hugely popular celebrity, and Gwen, a successful doctor. Caleb and Gwen were getting married on Christmas Eve and Gwen was going to a work conference just two weeks before the wedding. Without spoiling too much, I’ll just say that Gwen was extremely ill-prepared for what dating a celebrity was like.

But worry not! Dean and Jenny were to the rescue. They helped to make sure the wedding went off without a hitch and might have fallen in love in the process. From sampling wedding cake to solving crime, these two had undeniable chemistry and I LOVED them!

This is a MUST READ this holiday season!

This was such a fun sequel to Holiday Star. If you're in the mood for cute holiday romcoms the Holiday Romance series is for you.

The duel pov being Gwen and Jenny give you insight into both relationships/storylines as they happen. While I would have preferred to see a duel pov with a fmc and a mmc this was a fun twist to it. We get to continue to see Gwen and Caleb continue their relationship and navigate all their life changes. We also get introduced to Jenny and Dean as mcs. The banter is fun and this story manages to include all the fun tropes we love in a romcom. Melissa Dymound handles some sensitive topics so well, and while those are discussed and their is some suspense it doesn't bring the story down.

This fun, quick, Holiday read will also come in a clean/closed door romance (I read the open door version) so regardless of your preference you can enjoy this book.

Thank you Melissa Dymond and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Holiday Wedding is told from the POV of Gwen, a doctor and bride to be, and Jenny, a journalist and Gwen’s best friend.

Gwen and Caleb, a famous broadway actor, are set to get married on Christmas Eve. Although there’s last minute wedding preparations to attend to, Gwen entrusts her family and friends to handle the wedding to-do list as she heads to California to speak at an important medical conference.

While Gwen is in California, her best friend Jenny and Dean, Caleb’s bodyguard, help handle wedding preparations while also trying to figure out who is stalking Caleb.

When a blizzard hits just days before the wedding and flights are canceled, no one knows if Gwen will make it back in time to be at her own wedding.

.

This was the first book I’ve read by Melissa Dymond, and it was great! Although there is a previous book in this series, I had no problem following along with the story and reading it as a standalone. I read the spicy version of the book.

I loved having the POVs of both Gwen and Jenny. I equally enjoyed both of their storylines. I haven’t really read romantic suspense before, but the suspense with the stalker made for a more layered story.

Overall, I definitely recommend for a great holiday read!

Because it was relatively light reading throughout and grabbed your attention right away, this book was a great way to clear your palette. Although it wasn't overdone, the spice was expertly done and gave the story a pleasant touch. Although I felt there could have been a bit more character development and the build-up was a little slow, I still thought this book was fantastic overall.