I am so grateful to have been gifted with the opportunity to read this ARC by Dr. Melissa Dymond through Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.

I wanted to like this book but I do have to say I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would.

The stories about both couples were just weird to me. Especially the storyline between Jenny and Dean. One minute they are “enemies” and in the most quickest second they were together. There was not enough “foreplay” so to speak. The banter between them was neither witty or flirty or appealing enough for me.

The story of Gwen and Caleb was like a Hallmark holiday mystery with a tiny sprinkle of spice.

I can see some people enjoying this book. I, just personally, did not connect to it. But bravo to the author for her hard work in putting her imagination down on pen and paper and sharing it with the masses!

The perfect book for the winter and Christmas time! I loved it so so much and will definitely be reading again before Christmas

A wonderful, sweet, melts-your-heart-down, touching romance. Even though the main story was based on Gwen & Caleb's relationship, I liked how the author narrated Jenny & Dean's story in parallel. The geo-tagging part felt a little weak compared to the built-up given to the stalker but it wasn't bad. There were a lot of sweet moments which when mixed with the holiday vibes, turned very sweet. Going with a 4-star. Good job by the author.

We follow two storylines from two POV, Gwen, the resident medico engaged to uber celebrity, Caleb, in the lead up to their Christmas Eve nuptials. Of which in the most unBridezilla fashion, Gwen leaves the majority of organisation to her fiancé, her MIL to be and mother while she attends a medical conference in California, to deliver successful findings on bowel cancer screening.

Our secondary POV is Jenny, Gwen's effervescent journalist BFF, as she tags along in New York City ostensibly to write a series on Caleb whilst navigating the space with grumpy bodyguard, Dean.

Holiday Wedding falls into a super-cute light and easy contemporary romance read with a sprinkle of spice and a dash of suspense. nb. spicy version : spice count included four open door throughout book. Holiday Wedding is a connected Book 2 following on from Holiday Star. I did not however, read Holiday Star first, which is Gwen and Caleb's origin story, and I am confident this stands on its own merits.

Time with Jenny and Dean were my favourite chapters despite what felt like an over use of the juvenile "my lady part's' by Jenny's character. I loved, love, loved these characters. I would have liked more of Jenny's body image conversation and Dean's PTSD storyline felt wrapped up a little too neatly but beyond that, they stole the book.

My only complaints lie in that the use of miscommunication, or lack of communication between characters who would otherwise "talk it out" felt contrived. The author is adept at weaving in a mysterious and suspenseful subplot for the characters. It is a clever way to build tension adjacent to the main cast. The underlying stalker angle isn't overly sinister, it is clear the unidentified bad-guy is out there trying to derail the HEA. There's plenty of Christmas snow in New York City, which for an Aussie, is delightful to read. The being snowed in or, having domestic transport services come to a grinding halt, notwithstanding.

Another reliable story from Dr Melissa Dymond. I look forward to Helen and Teddy's story next year.
I received a prepublication eARC to read from the author and NetGalley. All opinions thoughts and are my own.

Melissa Dymond never disappoints! This book is a perfect mix of suspense and romance.
Once I picked this book up, I wasn't able to put it down. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time because of the thriller and suspence. It also has so many cute and funny scenes which had me smiling like hell to myself. Overall, it's such a well-written and awesome book! MUST READ

Love, love, loooved this book!
It was perfect, loved every bit of it! I really enjoyed the way it was written too, how the dual POV was for Gwen and Jenny’a stories, so we got a continuation of Gwen’s but also got a whole new story with Jenny!!

4.5/5 ⭐️

Gwen and Caleb have had their ups and downs, but their love for each other has never faltered. Now it’s time for them to say “I do” or is it? When Gwen leaves for a medical conference in California two weeks before the wedding, she didn’t think she would be stranded due to a blizzard back home. She tries everything to get back in time. But the blizzard is not their only issue. Caleb’s stalker is on the loose and is even more dangerous than before.

Jenny is Gwen’s best friend. She is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, and was sent to New York to cover Gwen and Caleb’s life leading up to the wedding. Jenny feels like her life and her career has stalled. It doesn’t help that her ex is also her grinch of a boss. She also has to be around Caleb’s grumpy bodyguard, Dean. Jenny and Dean bicker all the time but when Caleb receives a gift from his stalker, they reluctantly work together to figure out who it is. When they get snowed in together, things start to heat up between them. But with everything going on and Jenny’s time there being temporary, can they make their relationship last?

I loved this book! It was such a good follow up to Holiday Star. Gwen and Caleb’s journey to their wedding day was a bumpy one. I really enjoyed the suspense element in the story. I felt like the plot was very well thought out and the storyline progressed smoothly. I loved getting to know Jenny more. We see her struggles with forgiving herself for what happened in the first book and how she is self conscious about her body. I loved seeing how Dean and Jenny’s relationship grew. I was glad that Dean opened up to her about his PTSD and that Jenny tried to help him. The bonus epilogue has me very intrigued for the next book. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone looking for a suspenseful holiday read!

Thank you Melissa Dymond, NetGalley, and TheNerdFam for the ARC!

I devoured this book, I’m a big fan of Melissa’s stories. I really liked the dual POV both Gwen and Jenny. We already knew the love story of Gwen and Caleb. Now we get to know how their love story develops with some heavy moments but also some very romantic moments and even hilarious moments, like the car ride to the hospital. I was equally invested in the love story between Dean and Jenny. I always have a soft spot for the strong but wounded hero who gets together with a sunshiny girl. I really loved this part, how they grow together while being snowed in, how they open up to each other.
A must read!

I received a copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A fun holiday romance with tons of spice, tropes galore, and an extensive cast of characters who all have their own *stuff* going on. I loved the character art, sprinkled throughout the story! This is the second installment, and while I haven't read the first book in the series, the author gives enough background info to fill in the blanks. You'll have to willingly suspend disbelief regarding airport security protocols, the practicality of a 10+ day medical conference, and a few other items, but you'll be entertained along the way.

I loved the cozy holiday vibes of this one! The book does a nice job balancing the sweet and cute moments with some suspense and heavier emotions! I really loved that this one comes with two love stories! Gwen and Jenny each get their own POVs to follow their love stories! Gwen’s story follows her getting ready for her wedding as a winter storm approaches! Jenny navigates her time with her bodyguard and old sparks!

Tropes:
-snowed in
-haters to lovers
-grumpy x sunshine
-some romantic suspense
-forced proximity

With a wedding 2 weeks out, of course, everything will go wrong. This book had me laughing and feeling all the emotions. I cannot wait to read more of Dymond's work.

✨️spoiler-free✨️ arc review

📚: holiday wedding by @melissadymondauthor — releasing November 1st

my ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

aesthetics: 🎄✨🥂💍💖🕯️❄️🎬🍷🌟🏠🎁

tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, grumpy-sunshine, one bed, found family, and pulse-pounding suspense.

I just finished reading "Holiday Wedding," and I have to say, it was a delightful ride from start to finish! The story revolves around Dr. Gwen Wright, who finds herself house-sitting for her mom during the holiday season, only to have her plans turned upside down when Caleb Lawson, a world-famous movie star and her stepdad’s nephew, crashes into her life.

I loved how the tension built between Gwen and Caleb as they navigated their forced proximity. Their banter was witty and fun, and I found myself rooting for them despite their contrasting worlds—Gwen’s ordinary life versus Caleb’s glamorous but chaotic celebrity existence. The way the author portrayed their chemistry was fantastic; I could practically feel the sparks flying off the pages!

The dual version option is a huge plus, allowing readers to choose between a spicy, open-door experience or a sweet, closed-door narrative. I opted for the spicy version, and it definitely added an extra layer of excitement to their connection.

The holiday setting added a cozy atmosphere that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, but the underlying suspense with a stalker on the loose kept me on my toes. It was a perfect mix of romance and thrill that made for a compelling read.

Overall, "Holiday Wedding" was a charming story filled with heartwarming moments, and I truly enjoyed the journey Gwen and Caleb took. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Happy holidays to everyone—this book is a perfect addition to your seasonal reading list!

Dr Gwen Wright and Caleb Lawson are 2 weeks away from their wedding. Gwen has a conference for Cancer research so they agree she should attend.
From there the stuff hits the fan. loved this book. The love these characters have is so beautiful. I laughed out loud several times in this book. We see the struggle of trying to stay you when getting married. The difficulties they face due to Caleb's celebrity
We also have Jenny and Dean.::these two stole my heart. I wanted to hug both of them for various reasons.
Without giving too much away this has it all. Holiday fun, romance, spice, and some who done it?
I definitely recommend this read!

This book is a perfect holiday read with romance, spice and suspense. Written in a duel POV, this book includes not one, but two love stories. Be prepared to fall in love with all of these characters. This book will have you laughing at the banter and reminiscing on your own love story as you experience the love between Caleb and Gwen. Be sure to read Dr. Melissa Dymond's first holiday novel, Holiday Star and be sure to add this one to your holiday TBR as well!

A sweet yet mostly predictable story. An easy read that doesn’t require too much emotional energy.

The FMC, Gwen (a DOCTOR), is engaged to a stage actor, Caleb. Whiile attempting to hide their upcoming Christmas Eve wedding, their closest allies ( a publicist and a bodyguard, respectively) are an enemies to lovers situation.

I did not read the first book, but I get the sense that Gwen and Caleb are more of an afterthought. I get that the story continues from the first novel, but Dean and Jenny’s story is much more engaging and fun. I would have preferred less Gwen and Caleb and more Jenny and Dean.

Although I preferred one story over the other, the different POVs did make the story move faster, which is a blessing. The plot of the story is able to move along with the movement of the relationships.

There are a few elements of the story that seemed unnecessary, am a little unsure why there needed to be an antagonist to Gwen but maybe if I had read the first book, it would fall into place.. I can honestly say the story was good enough that I want to go back and read the first. For some reason I didn’t realize this was book 2 in a series, otherwise I would have prepped by reading it first!

Loved this book! So many swoony moments, had me grinning and laughing out loud and kicking my feet. I especially enjoyed Jenny and Dean's story. They were pretty much enemies to lovers which is my favorite trope. I'm so glad that she came out of her shell and began to love herself. ❤️

Christmas is my favorite holiday so I'm so glad to have been able to read this. Even though this book takes place during the Christmas holiday, it can still be read any other time. Pacing of the story is good, so it was a fun and fast read. This book was written in two different POV, Gwen and Jenny's. I really love reading different POV.

This book also comes with some trigger warnings. I appreciate when authors do this. It definitely helped mentally to prepare myself to read the book.

One last thing- I read the spicy version, which I would rate about 2-2.5 🌶🌶. There is a closed-door version. I honestly didn't know authors do this! How awesome!

Highly recommend!

I loved the story of Gwen and Caleb falling in love and I was so excited so see a second book in the series announced. I think it definitely helps to have read the first book, but it had been a little bit since I read it, and I don’t feel like I had to read the two books back to back. I loved the addition of Dean and Jenny’s story to this book and how all four characters were woven together. The mystery throughout really moved the plot along and I liked how it wasn’t just a perfect romance story; there were several other things going on. I loved how Gwen was presenting at a conference (go women in STEM!) and how Caleb supported her goal. I loved how Dean and Jenny worked together and really got to know each other more. Overall this was a really fun read that I didn’t want to put down once I got into the heart of the story! 4.5⭐️, 2🌶

While I had not read the previous book in the series, Holiday Star, it was easy to jump into the world of Holiday Wedding. The best friends, Gwen and Jenny, had a wonderfully supportive dynamic, and it was fun to see one get married while the other fell in love with bodyguard Dean.

The book is a fun, holiday read, but it touches on a variety of serious subjects such as PTSD, mental health and cancer research. I really enjoyed the book's combination of holiday cheer and thoughtful issues. I especially appreciated the content warnings, so that readers could ensure that they protected their mental health. I also enjoyed that this book contained romantic heroines who are dedicated and passionate to their career, making them better rounded than many romance novel heroines

I found the book incredibly enjoyable, and I would love to see the two books bundled together in future, so as to more easily enjoy the series.

I really enjoy Dr. Melissa Dymond's books.....they have a little bit of everything! An easy to follow story, filled with a little bit of romance, mystery and spice. Although this book is set around Christmas, it can be read any time of year.

(I received a complimentary ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.Thank you Netgalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Dr. Melissa Dymond.

Super cute read! I loved the progression of relationships between Jenny and Dean and Caleb and Gwen. The battles they overcame to become stronger themselves and together was heartwarming. The mystery will have your jaw on the floor! I would definitely read more about the couples in future books 🧡