I loved that this was a dual POV between Gwen and Jenny, so you follow two separate couples in their journey! I didn’t read the first book in the series so all the characters were new to me, but I never felt like I was lost in the story without the background that the first book would have given!

I also really enjoyed the stalker storyline—something about a heartwarming Christmas romance combined with a suspense just hit right where I wanted it to!

I read the “spicy” version, and it was 🥵🥵.

The author has also donated 10% of the proceeds for each book she’s written to research for different cancers, and for Holiday Wedding she has chosen colon cancer, which is an amazing cause to give to.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.50

I liked it, I really liked Jenny, Gwen and Caleb were cute as were Jenny and Dean. I really really loved the little presents scattered around the book for us! I love it when author's give us gifts like that.

I will say though I didn't really connect with the story that much. I felt out-of-loop for most of the story because how many references were made to the 1st book. I wasn't aware this was a sequel when I started reading the book, I admit that's my bad, so I felt like I was missing important pieces to the puzzle, and it took me out of enjoying the story sometimes. again it's my fault I didn't search before reading.

4.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! The author was amazing enough to notice that I prefer closed-door romances and sent me the "sweet version" personally. So my review will reflect the sweet/closed-door version of Holiday Wedding. :)

I loved this book so much! I decided to read Holiday Star first, and I am so glad I did, as it gave important context and I was better able to see the growth of the characters over 2 years of time. I loved Gwen's determination and ferocity(she is indeed "lion-hearted"), and Jenny's cheerful disposition. On the other hand, I love Caleb's unfailing devotion and Dean's silent pining. Both couples grew a ton throughout this novel, and it definitely left me wanting more(I LOVE that Dymond does free "bonus chapters" for her newsletter subscribers :)).

I also appreciated the heightened sense of drama and suspense in this book. Most people would expect this to be a Christmassy, fluffy rom-com about planning a dream wedding, but instead, the reader is faced with an engaged couple who don't know how they're going to successfully blend their very different lives, as well as a seemingly dangerous stalker. But of course, intermixed with the anxiety and anticipation are the sizzling kisses and chemistry from both couples. I am so excited to read more of Dr. Dymond's work! <3

4⭐️ a christmas romance?? with suspense and action?? enemies to lovers?? grumpy x sunshine?? forced proximity??

when i tell you i DEVOURED this book in two days. now did i only realize this was a sequel about halfway into the book? absolutely. i still enjoyed this book so much. usually with christmas romances they can over do it and be too cringy but this was the perfect blend of the cutesy romance and the suspense it was 🤌🤌

i loved both of the couples the book focused on but ESPECIALLY jenny and dean like they are so precious. you hand me a grumpy x sunshine and one of them is a bodyguard? consider me entertained. their dynamic was so cute and i liked seeing both couples evolve at such different stages of this relationships. overall such a cutesy, fun, and action packed romance to start the holiday season!!!

me patiently waiting for the next book to see helen and teddy: 🧍🏻‍♀️🧍🏻‍♀️

This book started off with a bang (pun intended!).

I’ve read hundreds of romance books and this is the first book I’ve read with a split first person POV between two main characters that are not the FMC and MMC. I loved that I got to see two love stories within the same book.

Jenny’s chapters were my favorite. The heated angst between Jenny and Dean was palpable. (The one bed scene- OMG!)

The author did a great job making the characters in this book feel real. I could feel their emotions throughout the entirety of the story.

A solid 4.5/5

My first time reading this author and I really enjoyed this holiday story.

Gwen and Caleb are preparing for a Christmas Eve wedding but a blizzard to New York puts a damper on plans. As well as a stalker that Caleb has tried to keep hidden from Gwen so she's not worried. Jenny is a friend to both of them and is reporting on Caleb's fame in hopes to gain a better spot at her job. She pairs up with Caleb's body guard to help find the stalker and their own romance blooms.

I didn't think I would enjoy the dual POV with kind of two different story lines in a sense, but she made it flow so well and I was able to keep up and added a fun element to the book. I really enjoyed the suspense aspect here, I was guessing the whole time who was going to be the bad guy. If you are looking for a suspenseful holiday book that isn't your typical Hallmark romance, then you will definitely enjoy this book.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely loved this book! Spicy, fun, and added suspense kept me hooked from the beginning!! This was a 4.5 star read for me! Highly recommend this one!!

Holiday Wedding is a top notch Christmas read!

It follows two couples. Gwen and Caleb are getting married very soon and navigating the speed bumps popping up as their wedding is approaching. Jenny is Gwen's best friend who is helping with the last minute wedding details. Unfortunately for her that means she is spending a lot of time around Dean, Caleb's bodyguard, who inexplicably doesn't like her. Add in a snow storm and a stalker, and this dual love story has tons of twists and turns.

I really enjoyed that this book had multiple love stories in it. The characters felt real and were very well developed. They were flawed in the way real humans are and that made them very relatable. The thriller part was a bit predictable and had some cringe-worthy lines. I think I would've enjoyed the book even more without that plot line.

Tropes:
* Grumpy Sunshine
* Forced Proximity
* Only one bed
* Stalker
* Snow storm
* Celebrity/non-celebrity romance

4 stars

This was super cute! I loved the little suspense plot going on in the background that came about at the end! Ngl, Gwen and Caleb kind of bored me. I was much more interested in Jenny & Dean.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC!

I really enjoyed this quick read, which skillfully blends romance, suspense, and a touch of holiday magic. While both storylines kept me intrigued, I found myself drawn more to the developing relationship between Jenny and Dean. Their connection had me kicking my feet together, rooting for them. Gwen and Caleb's dynamic, while still engaging, didn't quite capture me in the same way, though their storyline still had its suspenseful and romantic moments.

One of the standout features of this book was the inclusion of illustrations. They added a nice touch to the story. The artwork helped bring the characters and their world to life in a way that enhanced the reading experience.

The mix of holiday vibes, romance, and mystery was well-balanced. The festive atmosphere was present without overwhelming the plot, and the suspense kept me on edge, wondering how everything would unfold. Overall, this book is a cozy yet thrilling escape, perfect for anyone looking for a seasonal romance with just the right amount of mystery.

“Nonsense. You’re just enough. Not too much and not too little.”
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ . 5.

Holiday wedding focuses on dual POVs of Gwyn— an er physician who is getting ready for her wedding to hot shot superstar actor Caleb who also somehow does Broadway, musicals, and runs restaurants… and Jenny her childhood best friend who is a journalist wishing to be in investigative journalism with a software background. And most importantly, Dean. Caleb’s silent but impressive bodyguard hoping to solve the mystery of who is stalking Caleb.

Yes, it is a bit ridiculous with their careers and lifestyles, which is something I struggled to get behind. I did not read the first book, so perhaps context would have helped. But personally, I couldn’t stand Caleb 😭. And Gwyn , who was crying about having to take her rich fiancé’s personal jet. It just seemed slightly out of touch with reality. Yes, I get gwyn’s struggle of wanting to maintain her title as physician and her colon cancer research, but the problems she had are problems I wish I had. Reading it as a nurse too was making me hypercritical of the healthcare setting/ vibes.

However…Jenny? Critic of her own body, multiple times bridesmaid, and bubbly personality was much more enjoyable for me. Dean however, was my favorite character. We get to see his trauma and realness throughout the story.

I did not realize there was going to be so much action for a holiday rom com ✨. It wasn’t exactly my favorite type of story and it seemed a bit scattered, but I really enjoyed it. I liked seeing Jenny and Dean’s growth and story the most which is why I give it 3.5 stars. It however, has one of my least favorite tropes. Please explain how a doctor would not be more responsible. It’s giving grays anatomy. 😭

Tropes / vibes
🎄 dual POV
🎄 celebrity x dr
🎄 journalist x body guard
🎄brief fake dating which I loved
🎄forced proximity
🎄one bed trope
🎄 wedding shenanigans

I enjoyed the story overall and found myself laughing at times as well. I would recommend it for anyone searching for a non traditional Christmas story who enjoys some holiday/ wedding hijinks.

Thank you to Dr Melissa Dymond and NetGalley for this ARC to give an honest review!

Melissa Dymond’s Holiday Wedding is the charming sequel to Holiday Star, continuing Gwen and Caleb’s love story while introducing a new perspective through Gwen's best friend, Jenny. Told in dual first-person POV, the book alternates between Gwen and Jenny’s viewpoints, with Gwen and Caleb’s story building towards their holiday wedding, exploring the need for open communication, support, and compromise in a healthy relationship, regardless of the people involved.

Meanwhile, Jenny finds herself with her own romantic entanglement, with a touch of enemies-to-lovers and a forced proximity situation that sparks intense chemistry, adding depth to the story as her journey unfolds in parallel to Gwen’s. The holiday setting is full of warmth, but the added intrigue of a stalker subplot creates a thrilling contrast to the romance, keeping things suspenseful.

While the pacing starts slow, the tension picks up quickly, and the mix of romance and mystery makes for a refreshing read. Perfect for fans of holiday romances with a twist, Holiday Wedding delivers heartwarming moments and just the right amount of suspense.

A delightful, multi-layered read that builds on Holiday Star while standing strong on its own. Holiday Wedding is the perfect festive read available now on Amazon and KU!

I really love a good dual POV book, and this one did a great job of keeping me hooked! I really loved Gwen as a main female character and I related to her a lot! Great spice throughout the book, and I love that she offers this book in 2 versions, one a little cleaner. I love the spice, but I know some people wont even pick up a book if its too much sexy and she made it in a version for everyone! I love when PTSD is added to books, I think this topic needs to be spoken about more, as a military member I appreciated the way she talked about it and made it apart of the novel. I love a good grumpy/sunshine trope as well! Will def be adding this one to my bookshelves.

I loved everything about this book.
It was a winner on all fronts. And I don't know how! Because it was light but had the big hitting emotional and issue based storyline woven in too.
It was a two person point of view storytelling so we got even more romance. Another win. The two relationships also helped tell two difference based relationship setups. And how either and neither can be the "right" way. Because it's also how we deal with things.
The heavier subjects weren't glossed over. But it obviously isn't a deep drama novel so it didn't feel upsettingly heavy.
I really like this twist on a seasonal romance. Because it felt more than that.

wow this book was just so good. we have grump sunshine,enemies to lovers,holiday vibes the dual pov between jenny and gwen was really good in the story.if your in the mood for a steamy fun,holiday read pick this up.

4.25 stars

Book 2 continues the relationship of Caleb and Gwen, but also has a whole new couple in alternating chapters. I love the two separate romances in this book. There was a super cool ACOTAR reference for you SJM fans. I think I may even like this book better than book one because there was a suspense element. The teaser for the next book is fire! I love Dr Melissa Dymond! Shout out to my PMG sister.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced release copy in exchange for a honest review.

I read this book in a couple of days, and it was a nice, easy read. However, I did find that the primary characters, Caleb and Gwen, exhibited a level of codependency that I personally found a tad bit excessive. 😅

I loved that there were two characters giving their own stories, and it flip-flopped back and forth, so a couple of chapters were about Gwen, and then the next couple of chapters were about Jenny. I liked that it allowed for the exploration of two distinct love stories. 📚❤️

While I applaud the inclusion of mental health as a central theme, particularly in the relationship between Dean and Jenny, I felt that the emotional breakdown depicted may have been somewhat exaggerated, especially considering the intimate moment that followed. 🤔

Overall, am I going to read more books by this author? Absolutely 💯

#melissadymondauthor #bookreview #romance #mentalhealth #twistsandturns

Gwen and Caleb are counting down to their wedding however in order to get there they have some obstacles to overcome. Gwen needs to leave two weeks before the wedding to present her research about colorectal screening at a professional conference. During the planning process anything that can go wrong does!

Jenny is Gwen's best friend and is following Gwen's fiancee Caleb and providing articles to her newspaper about Caleb and the wedding prep.

Dean is Caleb's long-time body guard and friend and he is trying to keep Caleb safe from a stalker.

This book was the perfect jump into holiday reading however also had so much more. I was in from the first few pages and there were so many interesting twists and turns. It was a quick and easy read however addressed so many important issues while not being overly heavy.

As someone who works on the committee to increase testing for CRC I appreciated the representation in the book and love to have STEM in novels. The mental health representation dealing with issues such as PTSD, self image, self consciousness, feelings of doubt, inferiority complex etc were all handled beautifully. It was the real world showing that everyone is going through something and you really never know what someone is experiencing.

The representation of people dealing with the new identity of being married and having loss of self is also described perfectly. You can be ecstatic for the future and still anxious about the change.

Such a wonderful novel and cannot wait to read more from the author.

Thank you Victory editing Netgalley co-op and author Dr. Melissa Dymond for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is a fun holiday romance following two couples and is told from both FMCs perspective. I enjoyed the differences between the couples - one is engaged and actively planning a wedding while the other is just beginning their relationship. The parallel stories don’t take away from each other but switching between each quickly did take some getting used to in the beginning.

It felt like a slow build up great middle then felt like it dragged on towards the end, it felt like at the end the author was just trying to fill pages and make the story longer. The middle part was amazing, very easy to read and very hard to put down, I started to loose interest when it got to the part where Gwen was kidnapped, it just didn't feel like it fit properly in my opinion. the end where the birth happens also felt a bit out of place it was good in theory but just felt like it had a lot of detail that wasn't needed making it feel drawn out.
All in all I do think they book is good, just may be not my cup tea for plot.