Member Reviews
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.
Okay, have you read Holiday Star? If you haven't, read it now because, firstly, it's a great book. Secondly, this book is the follow-up to that one, and although this can be read as a standalone, it's just better to read them in order!
I really enjoyed this book! It's different because there are two different stories that kind of merge as one. The dual POV is each of the FMCs.
I liked seeing Gwen and Caleb again! It was nice to watch them learn to compromise and finally get married after the first book.
Jenny and Dean were so fun to read about! I liked their banter and watching their relationship develop while they struggled and helped each other with their own issues.
*Note that there's military background stories with PTSD. Such a sad story but well written.
I really liked the mystery/suspenseful element with the stalker. There was a good balance between the romance and suspense.
Thanks to Melissa, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for the ARC! It didn't disappoint.
In Holiday Wedding, Gwen and Caleb are deeply in love and ready to get married. But their perfect Christmas wedding takes a turn when a blizzard hits and a stalker threatens their plans. At the same time, Jenny, Gwen’s best friend, is in town to cover the wedding but has to work with Dean, Caleb’s grumpy bodyguard, despite their rocky history. Together, they try to handle the stalker situation while dealing with their growing feelings for each other.
The book offers a great blend of romance and suspense, and I appreciate that the author included two versions of the story spicy or sweet, making it accessible for different readers. It was nice to revisit these characters, though I found the beginning of the story a bit slow. Caleb, who was a favorite from the first book, felt overly protective this time, which was frustrating at times. However, the chemistry between the characters still worked well.
The suspense element was fantastic, keeping me engaged until the end. I especially enjoyed the romance between Jenny and Dean with their fun enemies-to-lovers dynamic. I do wish there had been Caleb and Dean's points of view, as it would have added more depth to the story. Overall, Holiday Wedding was an enjoyable, heartwarming read, and the characters’ happily-ever-after made the journey worth it.
Another fun romance from Dr Melissa Dymond!
This is technically the sequel to Holiday Star as it features the same couple, Gwen and Caleb, but it also introduces a new romance, that of their friends Jenny and Dean.
I read this in one sitting as I didn't want to put it down. The ending had a trope that I'm not a big fan of for personal reasons, which is why it wasn't a five-star read for me, but it was close!
A recommended read for fans of Paging Dr Hart, Katherine Center's books, and holiday romance.
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing Co-op for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a silly (in a good way) holiday rom-com. I read the spicy version and it hit just right. Good suspense albeit a bit much at times but I had fun with it. Loved the characters. I want to see more of Dean, Jenny, Helen, and Teddy! I do need to add the first book to my TBR.
I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher.
This was a perfect festive read!!😍🎄 It's also the first book i have read from Melissa but i will definitely be reading more!! This book had me hooked from the start! The book is about Gwen/Caleb and Jenny/Dean. I have never read a book before where it centers around two couples but i loved this!! The tropes where amazing! The spice was just right🔥 5 stars from me! this book was amazing!! Thank you to Melissa and NetGalley for this Arc Review❤️
This book was a great palette cleanser as it was a fairly quick read that gets your attention right away, and was fairly light reading throughout. The spice was very well done and added a nice touch to the story, but wasn’t overdone. The build up was a little bit slow and I thought there could have been a little more character development but overall I really enjoyed this book.
It's been a minute since I have read a romance book because I'll be honest they haven't been my fav genre recently. Holiday Wedding however was a TREAT to read! This was so much more than just a holiday romance. I loved how perfectly the writing flowed and the hilarious banter between Dean & Jenny. Adding Dean to my list of "book boyfriends" as I am writing this. The grumpy-sunshine trope was everything
My fav part of this story was that it included a little bit of mystery which I'll be honest I was not expecting. It added another fun level to the story. The spice was an ideal amount. It wasn't overly cheesy. The holiday aspect wasn't giving "Hallmark Christmas" which I was thankful for. Sometimes those books can just be too cringy for me. I cannot wait to read book 3!!
Rating 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 on GoodReads
I absolutely loved this book! I love Melissa Dynmond Characters💚
🎄I could not put this book down this just got me in the Christmas Spirit 🎄 If you're looking for the perfect holiday Romance/Suspense book then you will love this Book 💚
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Release Date November 1st
Gwen
Gwen and Caleb are madly in love, so walking down the aisle should be as smooth as Santa sliding down the chimney on Christmas Eve, but when Jack Frost sends a blizzard, their Christmas cookies start to crumble. And the icing on the gingerbread house? There’s a stalker on the loose! This Holiday Wedding isn’t looking so holly jolly. It’ll take a Christmas miracle to get these two married.
Jenny
Jenny’s life is a lump of coal. Her career as a reporter has stalled, and her boss is grinch. Eager to leave LA, she dusts off her snow boots to spend a month in New York covering Caleb Lawson, fiancé of her best friend, Gwen. New York is merry and bright except for Dean, Caleb’s grumpy bodyguard. He put Jenny on the naughty list years ago. When these two reluctantly join forces to hunt down Caleb’s stalker, the hot cocoa starts steaming. But can this maid of honor and best man make it down the aisle before their newfound feelings turn frosty?
Holiday Wedding is a dual POV (Gwen and Jenny), swoon-inducing, page-turning, holiday romance. Read if you like enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, grumpy-sunshine, snowed in, one bed, found family, and pulse-pounding suspense.