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When love is all you have, how do you protect it from those who want to take it from you?

I've loved Dove Tryst my whole life. There wasn't a time when I ever thought she wouldn't be mine. Even when we hated eachother, we loved eachother.

But now I'm sitting here alone, trying to figure out where it all went wrong and more importantly, how.
She's engaged to my enemy. Days from walking down the aisle toward a man who isn't me. And she's asked me to object.

I know what I have to do, but I'm not sure Dove's going to like it.

Sometimes love is war and you have to fight to keep it safe.

191 pages, ebook

Published June 1, 2023

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About the author

J. Sterling

58 books6,263 followers
J. (jenn) Sterling is a New York Times and USA Today best selling author of multiple contemporary romances. She lives in California with her only son, Blake. If you can't find her sitting behind a computer screen writing new stories, then there's a good chance she's sitting in the bleachers of a baseball stadium watching him play.

Jenn enjoys traveling to new places, meeting her readers and spending time with the love of her life, the one & only, Jack F'n Carter! Oh yeah, it's true. <3

Stay in touch with Jenn here:
Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/619557...
Website: http://www.jsterlingbooks.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJSterling
Instagram & TikTok: @AuthorJSterling

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5 stars
159 (14%)
4 stars
345 (30%)
3 stars
428 (38%)
2 stars
153 (13%)
1 star
37 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
Profile Image for ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn.
2,093 reviews117 followers
May 16, 2023
I've been enjoying J Sterling's Fun For the Holidays novella series. They've all been fun, flirty, sexy and a good reprieve in between longer and heavier books. But Sterling came at us with a different novella for Don't Marry Him. It was a little bit of a romantic suspense mixed with small town family politics, but still fit in with her series.

Dove is set to marry a man that she does not like, dare I say hate? And she wants the love of her life, Dominic to stop the wedding. But why is the love of her life not marrying her and what has Dove got herself mixed up in?

I liked that we got something a little bit different for this novella, but coming in with more suspense is hard to do for a novella. I felt like things came together a little too easily once everything hit, but the beginning was a bit more drawn out and didn't give me enough back story for the suspense elements. BUT, I loved seeing the strong bond between the soul mates and how they were always meant to be. They were cute and wish we got more of them together.
Overall, Don't Marry Him was a quick, fast-paced read that had the potential to be a good foundation for a full length novel.
Profile Image for Kaela Vance.
65 reviews1 follower
December 11, 2025
Beginning was suspenseful and the ending not as good as the beginning but still a good read
Profile Image for Kimberly.
43 reviews
June 9, 2026
I give this book 3.5 stars, so I rounded up. It wasn’t as good as the other books in this holiday collection.
Profile Image for Michelle Patton.
472 reviews7 followers
June 10, 2026
Don’t Marry Him is the sixth book in the Fun for the Holidays series by J. Sterling. Dove and Dominic have been together since high school, so when Dove suddenly ends their relationship and announces she’s marrying Trevor, Dominic is convinced something isn’t right. Determined to uncover the truth, he refuses to give up on the woman he loves.

This installment has a darker tone than the previous books, thanks to a storyline involving the mafia, but it never becomes overwhelmingly dark. Even readers who don’t typically gravitate toward dark romance should find it approachable. The intensity of Dove and Dominic’s relationship and their unwavering love for one another add to the emotional depth and darker atmosphere. While it felt different from the earlier books in the series, I really enjoyed it. It was nice to see their story come full circle and end with a satisfying happily ever after.
Profile Image for Howard Iske.
175 reviews1 follower
June 13, 2026
This is the sixth book in a holiday-themed series where each month has a stand-alone novella, and this one for June was quite a bit different from the others. Whereas the previous months were all romantic comedies, this was a romantic drama (with thriller aspects), and that made a world of difference. I welcomed the change, and the story itself was actually pretty good.

I found myself invested in the characters and everything they were going through. The story itself moved quickly enough along and was constantly engaging. I listened to this on audiobook and the narrators did a nice job. My one issue with the narration, and this is purely technical, was that the male narrator‘s voice was so deep at times that I had to turn up the volume to be able to hear him clearly.

Is this one of the best dramas/thrillers I’ve ever listened to? No, but it is a solid read, and a nice departure if you’re reading along in the series.
Profile Image for Lindsay Broadwater.
85 reviews
June 28, 2025
For the most part this is what was advertised. It was a quick read about Dom who is asked to stop the wedding of Dove, the love of his life, to someone she does not want to marry. The one problem with the book was that there was a crime element to the story that got a little confusing at times. It was resolved really quickly without much drama and was hard to tell what the Firenzi family really had to do with the story and also how both fathers were also involved. I'm wondering if there is another set of books by this author that contained some of the side characters and would have made a little more sense. There was only 1 mildly spicy scene, and it was towards the end of the book so if you are looking for a quick and spicy read this is not that.
Profile Image for Ang Hoehner.
684 reviews2 followers
June 2, 2026
My favorite so far in this series. Would have liked it as a full novel.
Profile Image for Lanie D.
405 reviews24 followers
March 30, 2024
lol this is what my ex thinks we are. But instead i’ve actually moved on 😵‍💫
Profile Image for Lucy.
62 reviews
October 11, 2025
“Como ele não estava morrendo por dentro? Ele estava seguindo em frente sem mim?”

Nunca li um conto tão ruim. Além de a premissa ser muito diferente do que é sugerido por uma série que se chama Divertindo-se no Feriado, a trama não faz sentido, o casal não tem química alguma, há um suspense estúpido e um lance com máfia (??).

Se espera algum tipo de divertimento, esqueça. A obra tem uma seriedade inesperada e uma história tão estúpida que nem acaba sendo relevante no fim das contas: Dove vai se casar e exige que seu ex, o amor da sua vida, impeça o casamento. Ela se mete em uma roubada e ordena que ele a tire dela — mesmo que isso possa prejudicar a pessoa que ela está tentando proteger. O que, convenhamos, tira toda a lógica de se casar para protegê-lo, para começo de conversa. Ela não pode desistir do casamento porque isso o colocaria em perigo, mas acha que o ex (que o noivo sabe que vai tentar impedir) vai conseguir resolver o problema... impedindo? Vê como essa história não faz sentido?

O tempo todo será reafirmado que todos sabem o quanto eles são o amor da vida um do outro — o quanto é impossível não estarem juntos, já que vivem colados desde o ensino médio. Mesmo que sejam, claramente, pessoas completamente disfuncionais, que discutem e se afastam só para testar a paciência do outro. Estamos falando de dois adolescentes? Não. De dois adultos formados e perfeitamente imaturos. Era uma situação ridícula, juvenil e tóxica. Não há nada de lindo nesse romance. Nem emocionante, como a sinopse garante.

O casamento, como eu disse, não tem importância. Nenhuma importância mesmo! Após o tal casamento, o conto segue para uma história chata envolvendo o pai de Dominic e uma máfia supermalvada. Juro que não aguentava mais esse povo — e não fazia a menor questão de buscar qualquer sentido no que eu estava lendo. Só pulei para o último capítulo e fui infeliz até ler a palavra “fim”.

Não recomendo a leitura em hipótese alguma. Não é intrigante, nem divertida, nem sexy. Nada. É mais divertido ler um livro de direito tributário do que ler duas páginas disso aqui.
Profile Image for Baelfire .
197 reviews1 follower
February 24, 2026
Finished 12/08/2024, relistened 2/23/2026
3.5 rounded down to 3.

MCs were HS sweethearts and now exes. Forced marriage to other man, not to each other, but no cheating. Short story and this was pretty exciting! Opens pretty strong and captivating right away. Had a little mystery and action packed into it, it was pretty fun to follow.

Part of a holiday series but complete standalone and no interconnections.

Audiobook narrators: Savannah Peachwood, Gregory Salinas
Dual POV, First Person
Tropes: HS Sweethearts, Second Chance, Forced Marriage, Other Man
Notable Microtropes: "Tell me you're mine", "mine"
Spice: 1/5 (Personal Scale) - 1 open door scene. Explicit descriptive sexual language is used. Vanilla monogamous sexual acts. No kinks. Plot still drives story and won't miss plot details if skipped.
Spicy Chapters:

Listened at 1.75x speed
Very familiar with Savannah Peachwood and she's one of my favorites, always love her performances!
Second time listening to Gregory Salinas and he was great in this, had a nice deep voice and very expressive. I also didn't mind his girl voice.
Profile Image for Daisy Knox.
Author 4 books38 followers
May 1, 2023

More reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder

This quick read is full of intrigue and suspense. Domenic and Dove have always been together. They became best friends as small children, grew up together and fell in love. But Domenic’s whole world imploded when Dove got engaged to his enemy and left. Nobody knows what’s going on but this is so out of character for Dove and Domenic is broken.

When she finally reaches out to him after months of silence, it’s to ask a favor of Domenic that nobody else in the world could fulfill for her. Her request sets a chain of events in motion that will either fix everything or get them both killed, they’re not sure what to expect. Their story is fast-paced and full of action but still has plenty of heart.
Profile Image for Amanda.
286 reviews6 followers
June 2, 2023
Thank you to J. Sterling for an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.
Jenn's books have always been fun, flirty and have just the right amount of spice to keep a reader entertained. This novella was a bit different. It was angstier (spelling?) than the other books and overall the storyline was not the lighthearted ones we've gotten with the other Fun for the Holidays books.

There's nothing wrong with that, I just wasn't expecting it and while I, of course, read through it quickly, I felt like this particular story should have been a full length book and not a novella.

From the brief snippets, I imagine Dove and Dominic had a story that would have played out beautifully from beginning, when they were kids, to the end, when they finally get their HEA. I wish we could have had more. More story, more background, more future, more suspense, more of the bad guys getting what's coming.

I'm excited to continue reading these novellas and I can't wait to see what J. Sterling writes next! Maybe I can beg for an extended version of Dove and Dominic's story?!
Profile Image for Olivia Robb.
106 reviews2 followers
June 4, 2026
I really, really enjoyed this novella. It was a lot different from April and May (which I didn't really care for all that much) in that it had a solid, real storyline besides people just being in love, spicy chapters, and a happily ever after. There was a conflict and quite a few other characters involved which tends to not happen in these novellas. I thought we learned quite a bit about Dominic and Dove and I loved their yearning for each other. I feel like this novella could definitely be turned into a real novel with how intense the premise was, and I think just having to rush through how detailed this storyline is because these books are so short was the only thing I found myself not loving. I simply just wanted more and there couldn't be!! I hope the rest of the novellas in this series have more of a actual story following the love story because those are the ones I seem to have more of an interest reading💍🕊️👮🏻‍♂️💒
Profile Image for Tenika Clemmer.
246 reviews7 followers
June 17, 2026
5/5 ⭐️ 1/5🌶️

Don’t Marry Him by J. Sterling was everything I love in a romance—emotional, heartfelt, funny, and impossible to put down. Sterling has a way of creating characters who feel real, flaws and all, and I found myself completely invested in their journey from the very first chapter.

The story delivers plenty of tension, chemistry, and swoon-worthy moments while also exploring difficult choices, personal growth, and what it truly means to follow your heart. I laughed, I got frustrated on behalf of the characters, and I was rooting for them every step of the way.

What stood out most was the emotional depth. The relationships felt authentic, and the decisions the characters faced carried real weight. By the end, I was completely satisfied with how everything came together.

If you’re looking for a romance that balances heart, humor, and emotion, Don’t Marry Him is a must-read. Another quick fantastic read from J. Sterling that earned every one of its five stars.
Profile Image for Shana.
397 reviews
December 18, 2025
Rated 4.5 (rounded up)

Dove and Dominic were just always meant to be, but something came in the way. Can they make their way back. This story had a different bit of a twist and mystery, which I thought brought more to the story. I was hooked from the start. The characters sucked you right in, I didn’t want the story to end. Best one yet in the series so far.

This is book six in The Fun For the Holidays Series. A series of 12 novellas, one for every month. All books can be read as a standalone in any order. I am really enjoying this whole series. Great short, fast reads to read in-between your longer books.

I totally recommend this story and series. Such cute novellas.

Listened to on @audible
Narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Gregory Salinas. They did such a great job narrating and brought those characters to life.
Profile Image for Anastasia.
436 reviews
May 28, 2023
Another Fun for the Holidays novella by J. Sterling. Love these quick reads. Don’t Marry Him had mystery, romance, family issues, all in one book. Loved it and highly recommend this entire series. They are all standalone and don’t intertwine, but each amazing.

Dove Tryst and Dominic DeLuca have been in love with each other basically their whole lives. They were soulmates, 2 parts of one. They were made for each other. They had dreams and plans to get married and grow old together. That was until one day Dove broke up with Dominic and got engaged to the person he hated the most.

Dominic didn’t know what happened. It came out of nowhere one day. He tried calling and texting, tried finding her, with no luck. He didn’t hear from her for month and one day heard that she was getting married to him. He had to do something and find out why she was doing this to him. She hated him as much as Dominic did. He needed to know who she was protecting by doing this, because she would do anything to protect him or her dad.

Could he stop the wedding from happening and get his girl back?

Received this ARC for my honest review and opinion.
Profile Image for Katie Morad .
716 reviews2 followers
December 24, 2024
Don’t Marry Him by J. Sterling is a fun, addictive romance packed with second chances, unexpected twists, and just the right amount of drama. The story follows a heroine on the brink of marrying the wrong guy – until fate (and maybe a little self-realization) steps in to change her course.

Sterling’s writing is witty and heartfelt, making it easy to root for the characters as they navigate love, regrets, and new beginnings. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, and the emotional moments are balanced with humor, keeping the tone light yet engaging.

If you love romances where the heart finally gets it right, Don’t Marry Him is a breezy, feel-good read that will have you turning pages late into the night.
Profile Image for Diane.
3,099 reviews23 followers
October 5, 2026
Dominic and Dove’s melodramatic, stop the wedding to the bad guy story was kind of jarring in the midst of a series that’s titled Fun for the Holidays. It’s a decent suspense story that would have been much better served by a full length book rather than a novella in my opinion. Far too many of the climatic events in the story should have unfolded in real time as opposed to the after the fact synopsis the author had to rush to fit into the allotted time frame. It was only after the suspense died down that the author was able to explore the softer sides of the hero and heroine and their unique connection. It’s a decent story with pleasing narration performances by Gregory Salinas and Savannah Peachwood.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Megan.
1,452 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2023
I really have been enjoying this novella series! Don’t Marry Him is a great addition!! This was a great really quick read! This one sucked me in from the very beginning! I have to say this one is one of my favorites in the series. This one has a bit of a different vibe than the rest of them. It’s not a light as the others. It’s not dark though either. As is usual with novellas this one went way to quickly and I didn’t want it to end! I got attached to these characters and didn’t want to say goodbye to them! This one had great side characters too that made me want their stories! Overall a great read that I definitely recommend!

Received a arc for a honest review.
Profile Image for Lina.
733 reviews24 followers
April 25, 2023
We have another short book from "A Fun for the holidays" series. At the beginning it took me a little while to understand exactly what is happening with Dove and Dominic.

I think they are perfect for each other. They were not only best friends, but they loved each other. The thing is that something happened and Dove is marrying another guy. Will she choose Dominic or Trevor? What is the reason for her getting married to another guy? Well, you will find out if you read the novella.

J. Sterling build the story really nicely and this book became a great addition to the series.

ARC provided by the author and all opinions in this review are my own.
Profile Image for May Kathryn .
1,392 reviews23 followers
November 30, 2024
An audiobook telenovela, anyone?

I expected this novella to be like scheming with hijinks and hilarity on the side, but no, it started off with a heart-breaking why. I didn’t mind. I was intrigued on how this couple would overcome this obstacle in their relationship. I gotta admit it was out of the ordimary, but the rest of the story? It was predictable that you knew what happened next before it was even narrated to you. Speaking of the narrators…

I will not talk about Savannah Peachwood as this is not my first time listening to her. However, if I remember correctly, this is my first time listening to Gregory Salinas and I think he just sounds familiar. Is he one of the pen names of the narrators I know and love, or is he a different individual altogether? Regardless, I think he’s okay. And I definitely wouldn’t mind listening to him again. All in all, this was a fun read. I would’ve enjoyed it more if it was leaning to rom com, if you know what I mean.
Profile Image for Jennifer Militti.
172 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2025
Don’t Marry Him is a heartfelt contemporary romance that delves into the complexities of love, loyalty, and the challenges of rekindling a past relationship. The characters are well developed, and their journey resonates with readers who appreciate stories about second chances and the complexities of human relationships.

These books are a quick read and have very little spice in them.


Favorite quotes:

— That was the thing about the people closest to you— the moment they knew your weaknesses, they wouldn’t hesitate to exploit them when necessary.

— When you know who you are meant to be with, you don’t see the sense in waiting to make them yours.
258 reviews2 followers
May 21, 2023
I love these fun and quick reads! They have all been fun and different. Dove and Dominic have the love that’s from a fairytale. Politicians are dirty. There’s no secret. When people mix with the wrong people to get ahead, it’s never good. Dove finds herself in an impossible situation with Dominic’s nemesis. She has one request. Object at the wedding even though he isn’t invited. This was a page turner keeping me on the edge of my seat and wondering what’s going to happen when getting mixed up with the wrong people.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
853 reviews5 followers
June 4, 2023
What a lovely childhood sweetheart story with a big old twist.

Dove and Dominic were always destined to be together and everyone knew that, including Dominic's previously good friend Trevor. Dominic had changed Trevor's life by taking him into his family home, but Trevor repaid him by taking everything destined for Dominic's life.

The only thing he couldn't have was Dove - until he did! No one could understand the sudden change and there had to be something behind it. This is what we find out, and can Dominic save the day?

Great short story that I couldn't put down.
Profile Image for Marina Skinner.
1,696 reviews51 followers
May 15, 2023
Don’t Marry Him has a romantic suspense that I rather liked.
A wedding, great banter, family issues and some humour made it an enjoyable novella to read! Initially I wondered what was going on between Dove and Dominic, but the further you get into this short story the more you will understand. There is also a level of intrigue and I particularly liked how it ends. A good addition to the Fun for the Holidays collection of novellas!
Profile Image for Katie Feller.
222 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2023
Another Fun for the Holidays book from J. Sterling! This one had a little bit of everything: crime bosses, family issues, blackmail, true love, and a real happy ending.
This was a fun read, but over way too quickly. I hope eventually this one gets turned into a full-length novel! 🤞 So much happened in this book, and everything got tied up in a neat little bow so quickly. I'd love to see the long version of how all this played out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews