Holiday Wedding

by Robyn Neeley

.Enjoy the companion book to Destination Wedding!

Going home for Christmas this winter just might turn Drew Cannon into a real Grinch. When his college sweetheart, Lauren Kincaid, broke off their engagement a year ago, Drew retreated to Tokyo to run the Asia-Pacific division of the family’s toy company and lick his wounds. If that weren’t enough, his attempt at a high-profile holiday doll for the company was a bust. Now he’s headed back to New York City to spend the holidays with his lovestruck dad, his pissed-off twin brother, and the ex who broke his heart.

Lauren isn’t exactly keen to spend Christmas with her former flame, either. But as JDL Toys’s marketing director, she’s forced to deal with their doll problem, holiday or not. Things take a turn for the worse when she and Drew are tasked with planning surprise nuptials for his brother.

With all their focus on happily ever after, Lauren and Drew soon discover things might not be so settled between them after all. Can a holiday wedding offer them a second chance at forever?

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Christmas, Fiction, Holiday, Contemporary Romance

222 pages, ebook

First published December 8, 2014

About the author

Robyn Neeley is an East Coaster who loves to explore new places; watches way more reality TV than she cares to admit; can’t live without Dunkin Donuts coffee and has never met a cookie she didn’t like. If you have a must read romance suggestion or a fabulous cookie recipe, she wants to know. Visit her at www.robynneeley.com.

Reviews

[Bethany-Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt appropriate to pick this up given the time of the year. It was a very cute, sweet read. I figured out the plans before the main characters did but I think that was the point. Wonderful book. Especially for the holidays.

[Vickie Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great love story.

[Debbie Oxier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I love Christmas stories. They create a warm, cozy feeling inside that usually have me wanting to step into the pages and experience all the magic for myself. And this one was truly magical. Drew and Lauren had been a couple for years when she told him he needed to step up to the plate and make it official. So he proposed and the wedding was all set to take place in Hawaii. Until Lauren caught Drew kissing the wedding planner! It didn't matter that it was all a big misunderstanding. Lauren felt like Drew simply wasn't ready yet so she gave him some time and space, which he ended up spending overseas running their toy company's far eastern division. Now it's Christmas time and he's back in the states for a wedding and face-to-face with Lauren again. In fact, he ends up in a cabin in a lovely little village that is all about Christmas with the woman of his dreams and once again they are planning a wedding. Just not theirs. Santa Claus, short people who look like elves, a toy workshop, special wishes Christmas trees, and so many other wonderful surprises await Drew and Lauren if they can just overcome the obstacles in their path and find each other again. I fell in love with the characters. Even the secondary characters were enchanting and made me want to read more. The author did an outstanding job of incorporating all those things that make Christmas so special into one delightful love story. I sincerely hope she'll consider writing another holiday story with more fantastic people and a magical location to go with it. If you're a fan of holiday stories, this is one you won't want to miss!

[Jonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel had the most absolutely ridiculous premise ever. At the same time, she made everything completely believable and utterly unforgettable. I absolutely loved it! I devoured this one in a single sitting. I couldn’t stop laughing throughout. At the same time, Neeley also made me cry, once for sadness, and once, for a perfectly happy ending. Her vivid descriptions bring this Christmas town to life, allowing readers to enter the story as participants rather than simply spectators.

The characters in this novel were fantastic. The creative manner in which Neeley developed them, both who they are today and the events that made them those people, captured my attention. I felt like I really and truly got to know and understand them as individuals. The intrinsic elements that make them who they are also made this story what it was. Surrounded by this fantastic and well developed supporting cast of friends and family, I felt like I was part of this extended family.

This was definitely a fantastic comedic romance that will put anyone into the spirit of Christmas. I’d highly recommend it to one and all. I’m also counting down the days until Christmas next year when I’ll be reading it again.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first finished book of 2025 and it’s a Christmas story that I stumbled upon on Hoopla audiobooks while looking for something easy to listen to while cleaning.

I was pleasantly surprised with how cute this story was. If you enjoy Christmas romance movies and are looking for a little holiday escapism, this book will be perfect!

Things I loved:

Christmasy magical realism
Second chance
Miscommunication trope
Grumpy/sunshine
Heavy on Christmas themes
Solid storyline and fun cast of characters


I think people give these type of books very low stars sometimes because they don’t like the insta-romance of it all, but I find insta-romance and partner switching are common Christmas tropes. This is a solid 4⭐️ for me. I was in the holiday spirit,okay! Audio narrator is great.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute HEA. Nice little twist near the end that threatens the HEA. I definitely knew what was happening before the characters, but definitely cute …and Hallmark vibes.

[Madelyn Ohene-Ntow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very hallmark!

[Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Kim
for Read Your Writes Book Reviews

Holiday Wedding is the companion book to Destination Wedding. What does that mean? Well, the main and secondary characters from Destination Wedding are all in this book. If you read Destination Wedding, you HAVE to read Holiday Wedding. And, if you haven’t read Destination Wedding, you’re still in luck, because Holiday Wedding can be read as a standalone.

In Destination Wedding, Drew Cannon and Lauren Kincaid were supposed to get married in a beautiful destination wedding in Hawaii. Unfortunately, Lauren called off the wedding shortly before it was supposed to take place, after she realized that Drew really wasn’t ready to get married although they had been together for over nine years. It’s now been over a year and the two are about to be reunited when Drew’s father marries his twin brother’s fiancee’s mother.

Once all the kids have gathered together, Luke and Drew’s father informs everyone that he and Vanessa, Kate’s mother, eloped. They now want to give their wedding to Luke and Kate. Under protest, the two agree. But Luke decides that he wants Kate to have her own special day and he knows just the place to make it happen. But being the head of a toy company during the holiday season is a very bad time to disappear and plan a wedding in two weeks. So, Luke strongly suggests that Drew and Lauren travel to Snow Frost Mountain to plan the perfect wedding. And while they are there, they are to come up with a new marketing scheme to sell Drew’s Happily Ever After dolls, which have been a huge holiday bust.

Holiday Wedding didn’t blow me away. But it had me smiling from the beginning of the book. I don’t recall there ever being a time when I was bored with the book or was ready for it to end. In fact, I came to a realization about the book early on, which had me smiling even more.

I have to admit that when I sat down to write this review, I spent a lot of time trying to get how much I liked/loved this book across. In the end, I realized that my liking the book so much translated to me wanting to talk about the book and giving all kinds of details. The details Robyn Neeley put into the book is what makes it so special. There’s a reason why Christmas and romance go together like hot chocolate and marshmallows on a cold winter’s day. Robyn has managed to mix the spirit and magic of Christmas with romance into a story of discovery, wonderment, love, and second chances.

**Received a copy from Crimson Romance in exchange for an honest unbiased review.**

Rating: 4.5

[mellie_reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay. Idk what I was expecting lol

[Halina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has been painful. The conflict is completely imagined and overblown. Major spoilers ahead.

MMC supposedly loved his gf, but only proposes to her when he understands that she wants to get married or will leave him. Then he is all action. Proposal, marriage right away and making out with the wedding planner on the beach. Gf sees the liplock and even though it's explained, she calls everything off. He still loves he. So much that he gets himself a new gf and bangs her on the beaches of Thailand while he misses his soulmate.

FMC is an alcoholic, c'mon girly has a bottle of wine every night and gets dumbest ideas into her head while under the influence. Here are some examples - getting a wedding gown as a maid of honour dress, breaking up with MMC because she doesn't think he wants kids. Never mind that they never talked about having kids in the whole 9 years (yes, they dated for 9 years) they've been together, but because he never brought it up must mean that he doesn't want any. That's leaving aside the fact that sexually active couple generally should have a chat about what's the plan of action if they accidentally get pregnant.

The whole book I was screaming in my head wtf do you want? You broke up with him, you ignored him, you are upset he found someone else, he ditched that someone else to be with you and you are rejecting him again and suffering though it all. Masochist much?

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday Wedding was a lighthearted and feel-good romance that put me in the mood for Christmas! I love reunion romances. There is nothing more satisfying than when a hero and heroine reconnect after being apart for a time and they overcome obstacles to find happiness together. I have not read Robyn Neeley’s book, Destination Wedding, so I was not familiar with Drew and Lauren’s past relationship, but the "flashbacks" helped the reader catch up in the story and I could follow the plot. Drew is true hero material despite his inability to previously commit to Lauren, his soul mate. His love for her inspired a line of dolls for his family's toy company. I think many women could relate and sympathize with Lauren’s frustration, especially when they had been together for nine years. After being apart for a year and then reconnecting, the chemistry and sexual tension between the characters sizzled, which kept me turning the pages. A wonderful supporting cast really added to the storyline. Lauren’s sidekick Miles is the perfect bff and he always made me smile. Snow Frost Mountain was a romantic and whimsical setting for a Christmas romance. I loved the role the townspeople played in bringing Drew and Lauren back together. I would recommend for a lighthearted read.

[Amanda Havener · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a PG13 version of Hallmark movie. Very cute and frustrating at the same time. Lauren wanted her Ex fiancé Drew back and Drew’s twin brother gave her the opportunity to win him back by having a be alone in a Christmas village ski resort type place. At the end when she did what she came there for and Drew decided he wanted her back and loved, Lauren then became hesitant and was like are you sure I don’t think it will work out. WTF Lauren! It all worked out in the end like it should in a holiday romance though! Still a cute fun holiday read! Recommend for a light read.

[Jen Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book - it might have read smoother if i had read #1 first.
Cute - 2nd chance trope - at Christmas
Twin brothers - have a toy company
Idea of boy doll and girl doll - when you register them online they find their perfect match. The dolls bomb, because most boys don't want dolls for Christmas.
OK idea/storyline. But how they solved the issue and sold the dolls as pairs - the girl doll and her gay best friend. Was a little odd. Kind of awkward.
Liked the Christmas magic part and the whole town in cahoots with the 1 brother to get his twin married to his ex. It was just awkward.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute Christmas romance! Very hallmark movie-ish and I ate it all up! You will know what is going on before the 2 main characters, but I think it's fun to see the journey they go on while discovering it. Cute romance with a great friend/ family group. A 2nd chance romance set in a magical/fairytale setting.
Absolutely perfect for the holiday season!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entire story premise was so unbelievable and bonkers but the story itself just embraced the fact that it could not ever happen in real life and ran with it. And, surprisingly, it worked! What was a random audiobook bonus borrow on hoopla this month turned out to be quite the enjoyable story to listen to. Narrated by Karissa Vacker.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

[Riana Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

God, this was terrible. Super toxic relationships, tons of negativity, female protagonist who blames everything on the guy when she clearly needs to shoulder the lion's share, and a cancer patient for some emotional pandering. I grabbed a holiday romance for some sugary brain candy and this book destroyed my festive spirit. Avoid if possible.

[Kasia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love 2nd chance romances but I hate that there is another woman involved, not to mention cheating (only emotional). Hero still loves heroine even after a year apart but already moved on to ow, make it make sense.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, heartwarming Christmas romance. I guessed what was going to happen, but I enjoyed seeing how everything played out. There were lots of fun Christmas activities & the MCs love story was cute.

[Stephanie Martel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had trouble getting into the magic. The first book did not have any magic in it so I always tried to rationalise it in this book instead of just going with it.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting tricked to plan your own wedding. Very original.

[Pat Chandler]

This was my Christmas book for 2024 . I love Christmas because I am a December person. Story of true love and all the things that happen in a relationship. Love can win with a little help.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy Christmas read- very predictable ending.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Loved the twists and turns. The characters were relatable and it’s a good cozy holiday read.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet little holiday fluff book. Quite fun and just right for a quick read.

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute Christmas book

[lianeasdf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could’ve been cute without the ow drama.

I’m here for ow drama when it makes sense, but this was just messy. H was fickle.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

You can read my thoughts here.

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

finishing up my holiday reads… a cute little story but not my fav. listened to the audiobook and cringed the entire time lmao

[Melissa Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoopla bonus borrow -- cute Holiday book / love story

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a cute, sweet, second chance,holiday romance. Nothing over the top but a fun, quick holiday read.