Member Reviews
Melissa Dymond does an incredible job at writing romance that is fluffy but filled with tension and mystery.
As the title suggests, the book is about a Holiday Wedding and it is book 2 in the Holiday Romance series but can be read as a stand alone. This book continues were Gwen and Caleb’s story left off. However, we also follow Jenny as she finds herself swooned by a broody bodyguard.
While Caleb and Gwen’s wedding is central in the book, getting there isn’t that easy. Stalkers, paparazzi and personal problems are all trying to get in the way of what is supposed to be an incredible event. This was also what made it impossible to put the book down since you just want to know how everyone is going to deal with these obstacles.
I loved that we not only followed Caleb and Gwen, but also Jenny and Dean. It did have one of my least favorite tropes but it fit the story so well, I just can’t be mad about it. Honestly, I would recommend this book to anybody who loves a christmas themed romance that also has some action in it.
I binged "Holiday Wedding" in one day, it was so addictive. I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting all of these realistic, loveable characters. I was pleasantly surprised that there were side storylines supporting the main storyline, which kept me turning pages. This book truly has so many dimensions. It has so much heart, humor, and suspense. I chose the "spicy" version, so there were steamy scenes that completed the romantic reading experience for me. This book is so real with various topics to which a wide range of readers can relate. I adore this book and series so much! Can't wait for the next book!💖
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This was such a cute holiday read! I love Melissa Dymond’s writing!
I was impressed with her ability to balance emotion with lightheartedness, romance with suspense, sweetness with steaminess, and she handles mental health topics so well (this is high praise coming from someone who is a therapist by profession lol). I appreciate how her characters are complex and flawed which makes them relatable. They feel like they could be real people. I find her writing style to be really enjoyable and engaging. I have a hard time putting her books down!
As much as I love Gwen and Caleb, I’m kind of obsessed with Dean and Jenny! The banter, the tension, the grumpy x sunshine vibes? Loved them! 😍 I loved the dual POV format. It was kind of an interesting twist on this format because you get Gwen and Jenny’s POVs and get to follow two love stories (as opposed to having a MMC & FMC format for dual POV). I thought it was a great storytelling choice for this book!
I think readers who are familiar with these characters from Holiday Star will be thrilled with this worthy sequel. That said, I also think new readers will also be able to enjoy this book as a standalone as the author does a fantastic job recapping events and re-introducing characters in a way that would be easy to follow for people unfamiliar with the first book. With it being a holiday book, I felt like she incorporated the holiday elements tastefully…it wasn’t super in your face or cheesy, it was just the right amount in my opinion. This would be a great holiday read to pick up!
This book comes with a festive twist—dual POVs? Yup! And the best part? You get two love stories in one! Gwen and Caleb are finally tying the knot, and let’s just say I might’ve teared up when Caleb sang (okay, I definitely cried). But the real treat? Gwen shares the spotlight with her bestie Jenny, who’s busy poking fun at grumpy-but-dimpled Dean while they’re on a Scooby-Doo-style mission to find Caleb’s stalker. I was living for every moment Dean swooped in to save Jenny, and don’t get me started on that bonus chapter from his POV—swoon alert! The ACOMAF reference had me squealing! The suspense? Totally on point, and Melissa hit me with a twist I didn’t see coming (though I kinda did, but not this soon!). The epilogues? Pure gold. If you’re into Christmas vibes, a sprinkle of mystery, and a whole lot of love, this is your holiday must-read!
I really enjoyed this book. It's a great story about two couples which you don't get often. The POVs from from Gwen and Jenny.
Caleb and Gwen from the first book are getting married. but does an accidental pregnancy complicates things? Caleb also has a stalker, but he doesn't want to alarm Gwen.
Jenny and Dean are an enemies-to-lovers, grumpy sunshine relationship. We get to learn more about Dean's background in the army and why he is the way he is. He blames himself for a not of the bad that happens in his life and doesn't want Jenny to see it. Jenny gets a redemption from the first book. She proves that she is a true friend and should be trusted. She would do anything for Gwen, Caleb and Dean. Although she feels like she is unlovable (so relatable).
We also see more of Teddy in this book, which sets the stage for book 3, That book will be about him and Helen (Gwen's new friend who is moving to California.
Everything you need in a romance book! Story progression was at the perfect speed. Romance scenes were hot!
Totally recommend. I'm an avid romance book reader and this one does NOT disappoint! Love the album art!
I picked up this ARC because I have heard so many good things about Paging Dr. Hart (which is on my TBR) and because of the cute holiday book cover.
Holiday Wedding is a holiday romance book that has a sweet/closed door and a spicy/open door option for readers to choose. This book can be read as a standalone but it mentioned things that happened in the first book (Holiday Star) which would have been helpful to understand what happened to the main couple, Gwen and Caleb if you read the first book. The other couple was Dean and Jenny. Learning about Dean’s past was so sad and I’m glad he has Jenny being so supportive and understanding. Overall, this book was a page turner. Not only are there romance and spice, but there is also a mystery/suspense component. It keeps me thinking who the stalker is and there is an unexpected twist at the end!
Thank you Melissa and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC for an honest review!
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This is a sequel to Holiday Star, but can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend that you read Holiday Star first though, it was so good. Also you will get some background as to how Gwen and Caleb got to this point (getting married). This book was a well-written, emotionally charged gem of a read. Not only do you get more of Gwen and Caleb but you also get the bonus of a whole other love story with Gwen's bestie Jenny and Caleb's friend Dean. The story is told from the POV of Gwen and Jenny. The two love stories are interwoven with such cleverness and skill, that it had me eating it up page by page. These characters are so relatable and lovable, you can't help but get engrossed in the story. The inner monologues delve into deep emotions, anxiety, past trauma and angst but yet was done with so well, due attention being paid to mental health being necessary in any relationship. There was comedy, swoony moments and drama. This was a real pleasure to read and I highly recommend it. (I also love how this author makes her books available in sweet or spicy versions- of course, I read the spicy version)
After reading two previous books by this author and really enjoying them, I was happy to be given an opportunity on Net Galley to get an ARC of this book and this is a voluntary review.
Oh this book was JUST SO GOOD!!!!! I would love this to be made into a movie like tomorrow. It was so so so so sweet! I could not love the characters and their sweet love story more! It was such a fun read and I wanted more. Can't wait for the next book!
I didn't know we have a second book coming, but when I did, I never requested for an ARC so fast!
From the title itself, we know there's a wedding. It's Caleb and Gwen's wedding but she was invited to speak in a conference where she gets to share her learnings from her research so she cannot get a lot of wedding plans. Enter Jenny, her best friend the an entertainment reporter who's gonna write a piece about Caleb and the maid-of-honor.
I love how we get dual POV but it's from our female leads. We follow Gwen when she's navigating her career and being a fiance to a celebrity at the same time, being long distance with Caleb. Jenny's balancing her work, helping plan the wedding, and exploring things with Dean, Caleb's body guard.
I flew through this book. I told myself I'm gonna stop at 50% so I can rest, but joke's on me as I devoured the entire thing in a few hours. I love seeing both women's point-of-view. They were in different point of their career and their life, that it was fun to see how they cope with all the things. I can even relate to both characters, surprisingly.
Gwen's been always relatable but this time, in a whole deeper level. I get her and I love that she's unlearning her trauma response and how she navigates balancing her career as a doctor but she's always gonna be some celebrity's wife. The author really put a lot of thought in handling Gwen's thought process.
Jenny was an interesting character right from the start. She seems so chaotic and fun, but we also saw how she became thoughtful and dealt with the consequences of her actions in the first book. She's still finding herself (REAL!) as she balanced her career while protecting Caleb and Gwen. Dean's a suprise because I am all for an insecure guy lol. He seemed standoffish and very broody, but Jenny cracked his wall. Their relationship was a great! It started off rocky because they 'hate' each other, but their banter and the way they balance each other was good.
The added fun of the mystery was also great. It kept me guessing and there's added action which was all in good fun.
There might be a third book, and I cannot wait!
This book was really quite unlike most romances that I’ve read…delightfully so! First of all, it took me a few chapters to really get into it. (This is *not* the delightful part!) I’m not sure why, but it just didn’t grab me initially, BUT, I’m glad I pushed through, because I really LOVED this book! Here’s what I loved most:
>This book isn’t about *one* couple and their journey to love. In fact, the couple you assume are the main characters? I’m not sure they really *are* the main characters! ;) We don’t see them fall in love and go through all their angst in this story. It was really the *secondary* couple that engaged me most! Maybe that was the point of this book! (I’m making a guess here, and I have not read her previous novel.)
>These characters are very self-aware and mentally healthy. Even if they harbor unhealthy thoughts/actions, they acknowledge them. The characters speak to one another honestly, and talk about their feelings in a mature way. They examine their own motivations, and recognize patterns that developed when they were young. I LOVE me some mentally-healthy characters!!! When other authors use non-communication and withholding to create drama, it drives me crazy! That just didn’t happen in this story!
>Speaking of unnecessary drama, I didn’t feel like this book had it. There was no big third-act breakup/blow up. Yes, there was some drama, but it didn’t feel like it was contrived drama between the characters.
>There was a unique two-person point of view. I was surprised when I saw the name at the beginning of chapter two; I assumed the POV would be the typical M/F trade-off, but I was pleasantly surprised!
Overall, I really did like this book a lot! I love the plot, the style of writing, and the characters! I highly recommend it!
I was lucky enough to beta read this and it’s my new favorite holiday book! There is so much love inside this book. Plus you have the thrill of the mystery as well! I laughed. I cried. It was angsty. It was hot. It was thrilling.
It. Had. Everything.
It had so many freaking layers to it and I enjoyed them all. Dean has my heart though. I wanted to reach in and give him a big hug and just hold him. There’s not enough words to show just how much I freaking loved this book🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
I really enjoyed reading this book. Even though it CAN be read as a stand-alone, it is probably helpful to read the first book in the series since the characters refer to a lot of events that happened in the first book. This is a dual POV with Jenny and Gwen, two best friends who are undergoing their own love story arcs. I liked reading the continuation of Gwen and Caleb's relationship after their HEA in the first book as they begin to deal with the realities of Caleb's fame (and his escalating stalker) and Gwen's struggle to adjust to the spotlight that has been placed on her and her relationship.
Jenny is still feeling guilty about betraying Gwen (from the first book) and feels that her self-worth has been diminished. She and Dean have great chemistry when they are forced into close proximity multiple times. They see the best of each other in a time when they each only see the worst in themselves. Dean is also struggling with some feelings of inadequacy and guilt from his past. Together, they help each other heal and move on. There is also a dash of mystery and suspense as Jenny and Dean team up to reveal Caleb's recent dangerous stalker.
Another great romance (2 stories in 1 book) by Dr. Melissa Dymond! Can't wait to read Helen and Teddy's love story next. Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the ARC!
4.5!
Melissa does it again!
Gotta love her work between the action, spice, and everything nice.
This was such a fun read it was putting me in the mood for the upcoming holiday season! The winter, snowed in, romance all blended so well.
There are two couples and relationships and it was so fun following both and rooting for them throughout their different journeys.
I also have to again admire how the author has two versions for those who prefer spice vs not. Always great to have both options so everyone can enjoy it.
Please give this a read!
Holiday Wedding: A Hot Holiday Romance with a Twist
Dr. Melissa Dymond's Holiday Wedding is a sizzling sequel that picks up a little after Holiday Star left off. Jenny and Dean are the main characters this time.
I loved the way the author kept the tension high throughout the book. You never knew who to trust, and the suspense was enough to keep me engaged. The chemistry between Jenny and Dean? Off the charts. Their love scenes are so hot, you'll need a fan.
Holiday Wedding is a thrilling and heartwarming read. The author's ability to blend romance, suspense, and humor is truly impressive. If you're looking for a spicy holiday romance with a twist, this book is a must-read.
I'll continue to be a major Dr. Dymond fan girl.
Great spice! A fun story with a wedding and a celebrity lifestyle. I enjoyed the banter between the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Melissa Dymond’s latest book, Holiday Wedding, was such a great holiday read! I gave it five stars! This is a must read!
Thank you so much @melissadymondauthor and @netgalley for this early read of Holiday Wedding. I loved LOVED this story! We are entering back into the world of Gwen and Caleb. You remember them… the super hot loving couple from Holiday Star? Wedding bells are in the air, but will they make it down the aisle? There’s a stalker on the loose following every move Caleb makes. No one can figure out who this person is posting such close and intimate photos, and leaving unflattering gifts for Caleb. Will this bring Gwen and Caleb closer together, or will fame rip them apart? If Dean, oh Dean… Mr. Hunky bodyguard… has anything to say, the wedding will happen. He’s determined to find out who the stalker is. He may even have a side kick named Jenny to help him. Of course they have to keep the peace between themselves first. Or perhaps there might be a little heat between them as well… but I’ll let you read about that… hint hint… winter storm… slow burn… one bed. Thank you Dr. Dymond! This read has it all… a love story… slow burn… finding your strength… and even a bit of mystery! And a possible note about a book 3?!?!
🎄𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
❄️𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞
🎄𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲
❄️𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧
🎄𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥
✨𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬✨
Oh my goodness, this book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! It was filled with nail-biting suspense and a newly developing love story between Gwen's best friend, Jenny, and Dean Caleb's hot bodyguard. I couldn't get enough of it!
♥︎ Caleb and Gwen had been eagerly preparing for their dream wedding, but just when everything seemed perfect, chaos erupted. Tensions were high, and it seemed like their happily ever after was slipping away. To add to the turmoil, a stalker lurked in the shadows, intent on ruining their special day. As the plot unfolded, we also delved into Jenny's personal journey, a character so relatable and genuine as she tried to repair her friendship with Gwen.
♥︎ This book features not just one, but two incredible love stories at different stages of their romance. The way it was written completely hooked me, impressing me once again with Melissa Demond's exceptional storytelling. And let me tell you, there were some steamy scenes that readers will absolutely adore! However, fear not if spicy scenes aren't your cup of tea because the author has crafted a sweet alternative that will still leave romance readers satisfied.
♥︎ If you're a fan of Christmas romance and romantic suspense, mark my words, this book is an absolute must-read as soon as it hits the shelves. Trust me, you won't want to miss out on this book. In the meantime, I highly recommend delving into book one, Holiday Star, to become familiar with these characters. Although book two can be enjoyed separately, if you crave more from Caleb and Gwen, I wholeheartedly recommend picking up this book or indulging in the audiobook narrated by the talented Lidia Dornet.
♥︎ All in all, this book is the perfect romantic suspense with all the Christmassy vibes.
This is my third ARC review for Dr. Melissa Dymond and I'm so very happy that I get to read her books and express how much I love them! This story takes place after Holiday Star and follows Caleb and Gwen navigating wedding planning and a stalker of sorts. While we are reading this story a concurrent love story takes place between Jenny, Gwen's best friend and Dean, Caleb's bodyguard. While they never wanted to admit feelings for each other a snowstorm in NYC practically has them falling hard for each other in a night, realizing feelings had been there awhile.
So while a stalker threatens to ruin Caleb and Gwen's wedding and harm the bride, it's up to Jenny and Dean to help figure out who the stalker is. While doing so they find out more about each other, especially that they truly see each other and may want a future together.
This book was so lovely and I just was so happy to see a continuation of Holiday Star. I enjoyed the dual couple perspective and really enjoyed getting to see Jenny and Dean's relationship unfold. Can't wait for the next book! Would highly recommend! Plus some profits are donated to colon cancer research!
Thanks to NetGalley, Melisa Dymond, and Victory Editing group for allowing me to review this ARC!!