Book Details:
Book Description:
Dakota thought she had left her dreams of happily-ever-after behind, along with the pain of a broken engagement to her high school sweetheart, Hudson. Now, as the proud owner of Fairytale Bridal Shop in the picturesque town of Flowering Grove, she’s built a life and a business on helping brides find their perfect dress for their own fairytale weddings. But running a small business is not for the faint of heart, and when her ex-fiancé unexpectedly returns to town with a mission—to put a stop to his sister’s wedding—Dakota’s problems go from bad to worse.
Hudson Garrity should be living his dream. After selling his software company, he’s single, handsome, and rich, but an unexpected call from his baby sister has him flying down to his hometown, determined to protect Layla from yet another big mistake. Though he’s single-minded in his effort to derail the nuptials, he instead finds himself thrown into family chaos and roped into helping his sister with her plans . . . bringing him once more into contact with Dakota Jamison, the one who got away.
For Hudson, coming home means revisiting his painful childhood, repairing a strained relationship with his sister, and coming face-to-face with the woman he never stopped loving. For Dakota, it means confronting the tender memories she buried deep within her heart. As Layla’s wedding date draws close, the two reunited lovers begin to question if what went wrong between them really happened the way they remembered it at all. Will they continue believing the lies they’ve told themselves, or will they remain forever entangled in the threads of what could have been?
With This Ring by bestselling novelist Amy Clipston is a heartwarming story that weaves together rekindled romance, rediscovery, and the transformative power of forgiveness. You’re going to love this standalone novel, which features a second-chance romance storyline, a billionaire hero, and a charming small-town setting—think The Wedding Planner meets a tale of reunited lovers. What sets this one apart is its sweet, clean romance; it delivers all the emotions and butterflies, leaving out the explicit scenes. And it comes with engaging discussion questions, making it a fantastic choice for your next book club pick!
My Thoughts: Heartfelt
I greatly enjoyed With This Ring, as it is a very heartfelt, sweet romance that deeply touched my heart. It is the story of Dakota and Hudson, two very wounded people whose previous shattered relationship left them deeply wounded. However, what got them there is a matter of opinion as each has a different opinion of how things went down. Those hurts and clouded memories bring much unpleasantness, anger, and sadness to their unexpected reunion. As they spend more time together, they each deal with buried memories that come to the surface and begin to bring a new light to their relationship. How they each do so is extremely heartfelt, and it sent me on an emotional roller coaster that included feelings that fluctuated between the likes and dislikes of certain characters.
Dakota and Hudson's story is a sweet, clean story of healing, self-reflection, and the effects of misguided goals and lack of communication. But most importantly, it is a wonderful story of the power of forgiveness and love.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.
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About the Author: Amy Clipston
Amy Clipston has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery series with Zondervan, which is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. An advocate for organ and blood donation, Amy donated a kidney in 2011 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through her donation, her husband received a second kidney transplant. Amy and her husband matched another couple and swapped kidneys with them. Amy's memoir, A Gift of Love, will be available in early 2014. She hopes her story inspires others to become organ and blood donors. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats. You can find her on the web at www.AmyClipston.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks.
