✨ARC Review✨

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Holiday Wedding by Melissa Dymond is a heartwarming sequel to her previous holiday romance, Holiday Star. While Caleb and Gwen are back, this time we also get to fall in love with the story of Jenny and Dean as the new MCs.

Let's dive into the highlights first... I absolutely adore Melissa's writing. It’s simple, captivating, and never fails to deliver. The chemistry between Jenny and Dean? Perfection. And let me just say, Dean is the ultimate green flag—flawed yet incredibly endearing. The dual love stories were beautifully balanced, and I especially appreciated how Melissa tackled mental health. She manages to weave these important issues into the narrative with such care and precision, making it a standout aspect of her work. The alternating dual POV was refreshing too, focusing on Gwen and Jenny, rather than the typical FMC and MMC perspective. What’s more, new readers can easily jump into this book, thanks to the skillful way Melissa recaps key details from the prequel.

Now, onto the less-than-perfect bits... Honestly, there’s not much to criticize. My only wish? I could’ve used a few more chapters centered around Jenny and Dean’s blossoming romance.

This is an easy 5/5 stars for me. It’s the perfect feel-good holiday romance, especially with the added bonus that 10% of the proceeds go to colon cancer research. And here’s another fun detail: Melissa offers the book in both a spicy and sweet version. You can choose between the open-door (spicy) or closed-door (sweet) version, depending on your mood.

If these tropes light up your holiday season:
🎄 One Bed
🎄 Grumpy x Sunshine
🎄 He Falls First
🎄 Good Girl
🎄 Snowed In
🎄 Forced Proximity
🎄 Soulmates
…then Holiday Wedding is the perfect cozy read for you.

Thank you to Author Melissa Dymond and NetGalley for this ARC! I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.

I love, love, loved this Christmas romcom! It was such a fun holiday read and I loved getting more time with Gwen and Caleb. I, also, think it’s a smart idea to have both a clean and spicy version. I love Melissa Dymond’s ability to incorporate humor with drama. I love how dedicated Gwen is to her career and having an identity that doesn’t revolve around her relationship. And I love how protective Caleb is and how determined he is that Gwen have a normal life that is impacted by his fame as little as possible. But, it’s possible that Jenny and Dean are even better! Dean is such a cinnamon roll of a character and he works so hard at protecting Caleb. I loved getting both Gwen and Jenny’s points of view and Melissa did a great job with the mystery of Caleb’s stalker. Dean and Jenny made such a great team! They made the perfect team! I can’t wait to read Teddy’s story!

overall it was a cute book. I like that the author had an open of a spicy or a clean version of the book. I did have the spicy version but I can imagine that the clean version would have been as cute, or even cuter.

I absolutely loved the dedication of the book. I know I have been told way too many times in my life that I am not enough even though I am a good person with a lot of talent and kindness. That dedication touched my heart.

Eddie's comment about how Jenny was always the bridesmaid when he knew he also played a factor into why she hadn't gotten married really got my blood boiling. I felt so much emotion in this comment.

Finally, the one spot that didn't really make sense to me was the beginning of chap 20. The book said that Gwen was up late talking about the wedding and staying up past midnight talking with Caleb. with the time difference, were the moms staying up til like 1am to talk wedding and then Caleb after 3am. I have done this time difference and have had to be mindful of what time it was.

I plan to share this book with my instagram audience a few days before pub date. Most likely on Oct 29th.

I loved the mysterious aspect of this book! I also loved Dean and Jenny! Thank you NetGalley for my ARC! 4 stars!

This spicy holiday romance is a follow up to Holiday Star but I read it as a stand alone. (no problem) The story follows 2 couples; Gwen and Caleb and Jenny and Dean. Its the lead up to a holiday wedding with a blizzard, a stalker and lots of spicy romance. It was a fun fast read with likable characters.

Fun and easy holiday love story with an expected happy ending. It gets spicy at some chapters, which makes it more interesting in my opinion.

Holiday Wedding follows best friends Gwen and Jenny in the fortnight before Christmas.

Dr Gwen Wright is due to be married to her Hollywood heartthrob fiancé, Caleb, on Christmas Eve, but must first present her research on colon cancer screening at a conference in LA.

Jenny is an entertainment reporter assigned to spend a month in New York following Caleb’s every move. As Gwen’s maid of honour she is also responsible for overseeing the final wedding preparations in the bride’s absence.

Never far away is Dean, Caleb’s grumpy lead bodyguard and best man, who is growing increasingly concerned about a holiday-obsessed stalker.

Everything seems to be falling into place. Then a snowstorm four days before the wedding threatens to disrupt everyone's plans… ❄️

This book is for you if you’re looking for a sweet, spicy and suspenseful read to get you in the mood for the festive season. As a massive fan of the grumpy/sunshine trope, I loved the tense dynamic between Jenny and Dean and seeing his icy exterior begin to melt.

The book can be read as a standalone but does revisit characters from the previous book in the series so, whilst not essential, it would probably be beneficial to have read book one first.

Ahhhhh Yes loved loved this book so much!!!!!! Best book! Caleb and Gwen will always be my favorite they are just perfect! I couldn’t get enough I loved loved loved it

Holiday Wedding by Melissa Dymond is a fun, sweet, and heartwarming read. I love dual POVs, and reading from the views of both friends was a great surprise. Jenny and Dean were extremely entertaining, but I also love a good grumpy vs sunshine arc. The humor had me laughing out loud, the spicy scenes had me turning on a fan, and the romantic moments (and the Pip moment (iykyk)) had me grabbing a tissue. I love a book that can have me feeling all of the emotions, and this one did not disappoint. The added mystery component was exciting and unexpected. I had my own suspect list going, which is always fun. I am so happy I was able to read this book as part of the ARC team and I do believe I have found myself a new favorite author.

this was a fun follow up read to Holiday Star and intro into Dean and Jenny!
if youre looking for a fun easy read with a bit of spice this is a perfect addition to your christmas countdown. This book does come with a mostly closed door version however I read the spiced version and enjoyed it

Another great read by Dr. Melissa Dymond! I always know with her books there will be a really good story, but it’ll go deeper than that! In this book, each character is struggling with an individual internal emotion and it’s effecting their day to day life. Plus, unlike Holiday Star, Holiday Wedding has a suspenseful plot line to it 😉

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Quantity of spice: 🌶️.5
Quality of spice: 🌶️🌶️.5

First of all, make sure you read Holiday Star “HS” before starting Holiday Wedding “HW”. I made the mistake of starting HW without realizing, got one chapter in, and said oops! I’m missing info! HS is an EXCELLENT read, so you do not want to miss out on that entire story!

Gwen and Caleb’s romance is fleshed out in Holiday Star and they are now a very happy couple. HW is fast forwarded a few years and they are planning their Christmas Eve wedding. Only Gwen needs to go to California for a very important medical conference to discuss her research on colon cancer and it happens to be only 14 days out from Wedding Day. With the wedding only two weeks away, everyone is hands on to get this wedding finalized in her absence. However, Caleb’s got a stalker and Dean/Jenny are on the case to figure out who it is before the wedding!

HW is told from two POVs - Gwen and Jenny. Jenny is Gwen’s best friend and you first meet her in HS but don’t get a ton of her story. In this book she has her own side plot/romance going on and I loved it! Her getting to know Dean and seeing that this giant body guard is a smooshy teddy bear inside was 🤌🏻🤌🏻

I mentioned earlier that the four main characters of this book are each struggling with something different and if there’s one thing I learned from this story, it’s that we’re hardest on ourselves.
• Gwen is struggling with how to be Dr. Wright and not only “Caleb’s wife”. How can she stay her own person while married to a man so famous and overshadowing her accomplishments?
• Caleb is struggling with his need to protect Gwen. He’s been a celebrity his entire life, so he understands how mean fans and press can be - he does not want Gwen to be hurt by them.
• Jenny is struggling with body dysmorphia due to the awful comments of her siblings as children. She has a very warped perception of her body and how other people perceive her. She feels unworthy, unlovable, and like a bad friend.. I felt so bad for her!
• Dean is struggling with PTSD after a very traumatic event from his Army days. He feels like he will fail as a body guard since he cannot handle loud noises.

I loved all the characters in this book and there were so many I didn’t even mention! I’m so happy we got a follow up and an HEA with a side of heart pounding suspense. Great ending to this story.. and I can’t wait for Teddy’s story in Holiday Love next year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Holiday Wedding was a different type of romance, part action and mystery and part straight to the spice romance. While the romance was a bit too picture perfect to me. I found it somewhat overly focused on the spice, though the author does give readers an option for a cleaner version if desired. I’ve got no issue with spice but just found it heavier on this versus the plot build up. I do believe that many readers will be drawn to the sweet characters.

Holiday Wedding focuses on two couples, but only one is already romantically entangled. Caleb is a big time movie star who has stepped away to be on the stage and in his restaurant. Gwen is a doctor who is new to the whole fame thing. These two are focused on in a previous book but there are plenty of references to how they got together to allow this one to be read as a standalone. As far as my thought on them, they were adorable but I just didn’t buy them as realistic.
Jenny and Dean, the other couple, are not romantically engaged but rather give off enemies vibes. Jenny is a reporter in LA trying to break into investigations but assigned to entertainment and to reporting on Caleb. She’s BFF with Gwen, but has had a tense friendship recently since she accidentally revealed Gwen’s super famous fiance. Dean is BFF with Caleb and his bodyguard, but dislikes Jenny due to the accidental reveal. The book focused on the run up to Caleb and Gwen’s Christmas wedding while Jenny and Dean band together to suss out a super creepy stalker after Caleb, which I found most entertaining.

Again, not completely to my tastes but I can see it appealing to a few people as it’s a sweet story.

Caleb is a celebrity, and fiance Gwen is a doctor. Both are ambitious and driven, so when Gwen has the chance to share her research at a conference just weeks before their Christmas Eve wedding, she takes it. Caleb, meanwhile, continues to plan the celebration as family arrives to NYC. Gwen's best friend, Jenny, is there to help, along with Caleb's grumpy (and handsome...) bodyguard, Dean. Concerns grow as a stalker becomes more aggressive, a snowstorm causes significant issues, and a few surprises along the way challenge the should-be nearly newly weds.

💭 I love a holiday romance, and throw in some suspense and not one, not two, but three love stories?! Told through dual POV - Gwen and Jenny - the story is expertly woven to leave you wanting more after each POV, like mini cliffhangers! I loved to watch Gwen consider her career path, her responsibilities as a wife, and the baggage that came with having a very famous fiance. She had a lot to juggle, and their relationship seemed realistic as they both had fears and priorities they were trying to figure out. The suspense was just enough, as was the spice! Oh, and Jenny and Dean *chef's kiss.* Loved their little snowed in escapades, and the ways they encouraged each other.

Book Review: Holiday Wedding by Dr. Melissa Dymond

Rating: 5 Stars

Holiday Wedding by Dr. Melissa Dymond is a delightful holiday romance that blends sweetness, spice, and just the right amount of suspense to keep you turning the pages. This dual POV tale follows two couples—Gwen and Caleb, Jenny and Dean—as they navigate love, danger, and the magic of Christmas. With its festive charm, heart-pounding romance, and thrilling twists, this book offers a perfect mix for fans of holiday love stories with an edge.

Plot Summary: Gwen and Caleb are madly in love, and their winter wedding is set to be the event of the season. But when a blizzard hits and a mysterious stalker threatens their safety, their dream ceremony quickly turns into a nightmare. Enter Jenny, Gwen’s best friend and a reporter looking to escape her stalled career in LA. She heads to New York to cover Caleb, but there’s a catch: she’ll be working alongside Dean, Caleb’s gruff bodyguard and the one man who’s always rubbed her the wrong way. As Jenny and Dean team up to find the stalker, their banter and tension melt into something far steamier.

This book is a masterclass in combining beloved romance tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and grumpy-sunshine dynamics all thrive here, particularly between Jenny and Dean. The snowy New York setting and Christmassy backdrop provide the perfect cozy environment for love to bloom amid suspense.

Character Dynamics: Gwen and Caleb are the heart of the novel’s central romance, and their love is sweet and full of holiday cheer. However, the real fireworks happen between Jenny and Dean, who start off as adversaries before their chemistry ignites into something much more. Jenny, a spirited journalist looking to break out of a slump, clashes deliciously with Dean, whose tough exterior hides deeper feelings. Their journey from tension-filled sparring to undeniable attraction is deeply satisfying, particularly for fans of the grumpy-sunshine trope.

Romantic Suspense: The suspense element is another highlight. With a stalker on the loose, the stakes feel real, adding urgency to the romance. Dymond expertly balances the cozy, swoon-worthy moments with pulse-quickening danger, giving readers the best of both worlds. The threat looming over Gwen and Caleb’s wedding serves as a powerful catalyst, bringing Jenny and Dean together while creating a sense of urgency that keeps the reader hooked.

Writing Style: Melissa Dymond’s writing is engaging and fluid, blending humor, romance, and suspense seamlessly. She has a gift for witty dialogue and slow-burn tension, particularly when it comes to Jenny and Dean’s interactions. The alternating POV between Gwen and Jenny allows readers to connect with both couples while keeping the story dynamic. Whether you choose the spicy/open-door version or the sweet/clean version, Dymond’s storytelling remains a treat.

Conclusion: Holiday Wedding is a swoon-worthy holiday romance that delivers everything you could want: heart-melting love, holiday cheer, and just the right amount of suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. Whether you’re drawn to the sweet love story of Gwen and Caleb or the steamy, slow-burn tension between Jenny and Dean, this book will leave you with all the warm holiday feels. Perfect for fans of festive romances with a dash of danger, this is one holiday read you don’t want to miss!

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy their holiday romance with a mix of spice and suspense!

Must read for Christmas!

This book was a festive read that I liked. I was quite engaged and couldn’t put it down. I did find this had elements similar to Paging Dr. Hart which can be a good or bad thing (just didn’t want things to feel overdone). It did have a trope I didn’t like, which made me not enjoy this book as much as I could’ve.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing and Dr Melissa Dymond for this ARC.

This is the continuation of Gwen's (a doctor) and Caleb's (a famous actor) story from Holiday Star, with the added story of Gwen's BFF Jennie and beefcake bodyguard Dean.

It's December and Gwen's and Caleb's wedding is imminent. Tensions are high and Jenny and Dean are thrown together by various wedding tasks and a winter storm crippling New York, giving us the grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers and fake dating tropes, with forced proximity and only one bed situation thrown in for good measure.

This is a sequel written for readers who were keen on more of Gwen, Caleb and friends. It is therefore not really suitable as a standalone book, and I downloaded the first book from Amazon before reading this.

It is written in dual POV between Gwen and Jenny, but to me it contains more of Gwen's story. I have to say I didn't find Jenny's story as interesting but that may be because she wasn't given the exposure and the right to her own book.

Like the first one, this book comes in a sweet and in a spicy version (although NetGalley only has the spicy one), with the sweet version only involving kissing, whereas the spicy version being at it from page one. To be honest, I think the author should decide what level of spice she wants to write and then stick to it. I generally prefer less spice but I can always skip a few pages.

It is well written and there is a cute dog but the story itself is a bit of a hotchpotch of romance and mystery, with three couples in various stages of their relationships, a wedding and a stalking plot that escalated rather alarmingly.

With a lot of snow and the action contained to wintertime, it is more Christmassy than the first, but we get the same level of hidden trauma from the main characters, with the mental health issues handled sensitively.

The third book Holiday Love between Helen and Teddy is set up in an epilogue, but while I like epilogues I was a bit overwhelmed by all the bonus epilogues and "click here for Caleb's version" links.

I did however like the colourful illustrations and the romantic tone of the book plus the info on colon cancer detection, and I would like to read the third installation because from history they are often better than the second (waves to Back to the Future and Men in Black).

3.5 stars

Dr. Melissa Dymond has done it AGAIN!! I read Holiday Star and loved every minute so when I learned that Holiday Wedding was coming, I was so excited!! Then to find out Jenny and Dean get their stories?! YES PLEASE! I was pulled in from the very beginning and loved the mixing of genres that Dymond does. You get romcom, of course, but there’s also an element of mystery and thriller. That adds a whole other level to the reading process and can really keep you on your feet while reading! I was honored to receive the opportunity to alpha read and ARC read this book and it couldn’t have been better! I love this universe and honestly… I need a third book!!! Gwen’s brother needs his story, right?!

My first ARC and this did not disappoint!! I am grateful for this opportunity. I loved how this book was written from multiple perspectives! I loved the graphics that were included in the book! But I will say Dean has my heart! ❤️ I've never read a book by Melissa Dymond, and now I'm hooked! I can't wait for the next book!

Oh my! This book definitely delivered on it's promise of spicy romance with suspense. The characters were loveable and interesting. The romance was sizzling and the suspense was good. I especially loved the romance of the side characters since this is a sequel to the original book about the main characters' romance. I didn't miss the original book much because of the side characters. I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you, Netgalley, for giving me the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Our story focuses on Dean and Jenny who are the best man and maid of honor for their best friend’s wedding. They can hardly tolerate one another but must join forces to pull off the wedding for the people they love the most. But the bride and groom are not just anyone. The groom is a famous actor, chef, and singer and Dean is not just his best friend but also his bodyguard. The bride is a doctor making strides in colon cancer advancements and Jenny has been her best friend since childhood. But they had a rocky patch when Jenny’s loose lips led to the bride and groom breaking up. Bound to make up to her, Jenny is going to make this the bride’s dream wedding. As Jenny and Dean start spending time together they become closer and start having feelings for one another. But things start to go awry when Dean has to track down the groom’s stalker who seems to be escalating and the bride gets some news of her own that will change her and the groom’s lives forever. Add in a giant snow storm keeping the love birds apart and Jenny and Dean have their work cut out for them. Will they be able to figure everything out in time and save the day and their blooming relationship?

This is my second book by Dr. Melissa Dymond and once again she has knocked it out of the park! I wish I had known this book was a sequel so I could have read the first book prior. However, this book can be read as a standalone. It was a quick read with spicy and action scenes that made it hard to put down! The health advocacy information in the book was important to me and I felt like it was included in a thoughtful way. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and gave it 4 stars. I plan to go back and read the first book now!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange an honest review!