The Christmas Ring - by Karen Kingsbury (Hardcover)

A ring can be very special. “The Christmas Ring” by Karen Kingsbury tells the story of an antique ruby and gold ring, starting when it was found by Bill Bailey on D-Day, June 6, 1944, in France. Fast forward to present times in Breckenridge, Colorado. The current owner is Vanessa Mayfield, the fourth generation to wear the ring. She and her daughter, Sadie, are visiting Colorado during the Christmas holidays to work through the loss of Vanessa’s husband and Sadie’s father, Alan. While there Vanessa is crushed when she loses this special ring. Fast forward another four years and another set of major changes are happening in Venessa’s life. Sadie is starting college and Vanessa is becoming an empty nester. On her way home from dropping Sadie off at school, Vanessa stops for gas and sees an antique store. She has developed the habit of checking out these shops to try to find her ring. She meets Ben Miller, the store’s co-owner and a widower. They start a conversation as Vanessa looks at the antique jewelry, still hoping to find her ring. Vanessa and Ben begin a friendship that ends up helping each other. Throughout the book, all of the characters, in all of their various situations, pray and reach out to God for guidance. This story touched me in so manny ways. It’s a story of losses and how one copes with them. It’s about life changes and how one adjusts to them. It’s about hope and how one’s attitude can shape what may come. Threaded through the whole book is the theme of God’s presence. I really appreciate the way Ms. Kingsbury uses and quotes actual Biblical passages. It can be a reminder that if we put ourselves and our circumstances in Gods hands, we can be in a better situation. Anyone who wants or needs some inspiration and hope with a holiday setting should read this book. I wish to thank Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complimentary eARC of this book and for selecting me to review it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own. #TheChristmasRing #ThomasNelsonFiction #NetGalley #Romance #ChristianFiction

This is a wonderful book that honors those in military service, reminds us that faith in God is important, and that forgiveness is important. The characters are relatable and easy to like! Vanessa is AMAZING! She has known heartache but she is determined to provide a loving home for her daughter, Sadie. It's wonderful how their mother/daughter relationship is: it reminds me of mine with my mom and with my daughters. (best friends!) Sadie is a typical young woman. She is eager to start her own life but she loves her mother a lot. Ben is hunkalicious! He's handsome (Chris Pratt 😍), he's an antiques collector and he loves poetry. He has a compassionate heart and he's patient! The Christmas ring is sentimental. As it's passed down from generation to generation the message of God's faithfulness is passed along too. In my life, it's our family Bible. I have read many books by Karen Kingsbury and I look forward to her next book! I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.