With This Ring is a sweet, clean second chance romance all about forgiveness, love, and finding out what is truly important in life. Amy Clipston has been a must read author for me and will continue to be!

This story is set in the small town of Flowering Grove, NC and centers around Dakota and Hudson. Dakota loves her town and is living her dream running the Fairytale Bridal Boutique, but finds herself down on her luck when water pipes leak and ruin a good portion of the wedding dresses. The last person she wants to see is Hudson, the man who broke her heart 7 years ago, yet here he is.

Hudson is a successful businessman back in town from the big city for his sister’s wedding. He lost both parents at a young age and strove to take care of his aunt and sister almost to a fault. Hudson’s sister chose Dakota’s shop to make her custom wedding dress, which means there is no avoiding Dakota…

As the two navigate seeing each other after so long, they talk about what broke them apart and discover that their feelings for each other never really went away. Can they work through and move past their past and find their own happily ever after?

Both characters have plenty of issues and flaws which made them seem real. There were a few times when I just wanted to yell at both of them to get over it and just talk to each other. Dakota is one stubborn girl, not wanting to ask for help from anyone. I liked seeing her realize that sometimes it’s ok to ask for help and let them help. Hudson was wrapped up in his grief while also refusing to acknowledge it. I liked seeing Hudson open up about his grief and work through it. I did love the strong sense of family and forgiveness in the story!

TW: Loss of Parents (past)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Hudson and Dakota were high school sweethearts who eventually became engaged but before the wedding, they broke up. Dakota stayed in their hometown and opened a bridal shop while Hunter made his fortune in NYC as the co-founder of a successful business that recently sold. Now their two worlds have collided as Hunter has temporarily moved home to try to talk his sister (and Dakota’s client), Layla, out of marrying her fiancé and it becomes apparent that he and Dakota have unfinished business to take care of—both as individuals as well as with one another. This feel-good clean second chance romance deals with their personal journeys that eventually lead them back together. It’s a slow burn romance that moves a little slow but definitely has kisses with some sizzle. I enjoyed it! Rating 4.5. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

With This Ring is about second chances, forgiveness, sweet romance and a Wedding. An uplifting clean romance. Another winner for Amy Clipston. Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction.

Amy has written a lovely, cozy, and heartwarming story! It’s a sweet slow burn, second chance romance, with a wonderful small town backdrop. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I loved the growth of the main characters, and how they both came to realize they weren’t without fault. The romance between Dakota and Hudson was sweet, especially when Hudson kept helping Dakota, even though he was still hurting over their breakup.

✨ After a painful broken engagement to her high school sweetheart, Hudson, Dakota built a new life as the owner of Fairytale Bridal Shop. But her world is turned upside down when Hudson returns to town.

Wealthy and single, Hudson Garrity returns to his hometown to prevent his sister’s marriage. He soon finds himself entangled in family chaos and face-to-face with Dakota Jamison, the girl who broke his heart.

As Hudson and Dakota reunite, they’re faced with the pain of their past and the uncertainty of their future. Will they continue to believe the lies they’ve told themselves, or will they find a way to rekindle their love?

Relatable characters and heartfelt, emotional moments make this a touching, engaging, and uplifting read.

I received a copy from the publisher and Austenprose PR via NetGalley, but a positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

This is a heartwarming and uplifting read that is a perfect fit for fans of sweet, clean, and contemporary romance, particularly those who enjoy second chance love stories and small-town fiction, as it weaves a tender tale of rekindled romance, forgiveness, and rediscovery.

I enjoyed this book and fell in love with the characters. I cannot count the amount of times I smiled or teared up reading this book. With this Ring was a great heartfelt book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the arc copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Hudson Garrity always dreamed of going to New York and starting his own software company. When he gets the opportunity to do just that, his broken off engagement with high school sweetheart Dakota Jamison solidifies his decision to never return to their hometown of Flowering Grove, North Carolina. Dakota stays in Flowering Grove and opens a bridal boutique, staying busy and pursuing her dream of being a seamstress. Hudson seldom returns to his hometown, never seeing Dakota again as years pass.

After seven years go by, Hudson finds himself back in Flowering Grove with the sale of his company and his sister Layla's engagement news. Hudson is determined to stop Layla and Shane's wedding, deciding to stay in an Airbnb in town next door to Dakota. With the new close proximity, Hudson and Dakota keep running into each other and must come to terms with their feelings and why their relationship fell apart years prior. When Dakota starts dating another man and Hudson's meddling starts backfiring on him, he must decide between staying in North Carolina to fight for those he loves or taking another project out of state with his partner Darren.

This book revolves around the tropes of miscommunication, second chance, and forced proximity. It is listed as adult fiction romance but seems more on the YA side in my opinion. I did find some of the content to be overly descriptive, but can see the appeal of that for readers who picture scenes in their head while reading. Overall, it was a cute book, although frustrating at times. I wanted Dakota and Hudson to get over themselves and make up already, as it was clear they needed to be together. They both had good character development. The romance was very PG and there was zero spice, which I would've liked to see.

3.75 stars.

With This Ring by Amy Clipston is an enjoyable contemporary romance novel with amazing characters.
This is a fascinating, poignant story, as well as somewhat of an emotional experience.
I love all of Amy's books but this one is probably my favorite.
This book is beautifully written with characters that you can connect with and bond naturally.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I really love this author! Her books are well written! This has been one of my favorite second chance romance books that I have read. I recommend this book to those who like second chance romance books.

Thank you to Netgalley for a digital copy of this book for me to review!

With This Ring by Amy Clipson. I always enjoy a romance by Clipson because they are simpler without the heat and yet, so sweet. Dakota owns a bridal shop, but things aren’t going well. The pipes had burst and ruined a great many gown for the new season. She is working diligently with a steamer to salvage as many as possible. Because she has no gowns from this season, her business has fallen off so now is having trouble making her store lease payment and her house payment. To make matters worse, Layla had come in and wanted a wedding dress just like her mother’s: she had a photo. To start from scratch would be hideously expensive but Dakota thought she could modify one she had in the store. Layla was thrilled. The next day a man came into the store to pay for the dress. It was Hudson, the man who had dumped Dakota years before...back in town! Hudson was bossy and thought he was always right, which caused a problem between Layla and her fiance. In fact, it led to the wedding being cancelled.’

Hudson was a good guy, but he was bossy. He was ruining his relationship with his sister and Dakota told him so. As he contemplated his next move, he though about what Dakota had said, and she was right. Dakota was good at solving other people problems, just not her own. She never wanted to ask for help. She was a bad as Hudson in many ways. She gave in and went to her dad for help. Things took a turn for the better quickly. Layla resolved her problems and the wedding was back on. Things were looking up and Dakota was thrilled. These are all nice people. We see the hidden darkness in several of them, but it rectifies itself. It was a decent second chance romance novel with a lot of other stuff thrown in for good measure.

I was invited to read With This Ring by Thomas Nelson Fiction. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #ThomasNelsonFiction #AmyClipson #WithThisRing

Heatfelt

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 one 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 sent me on an emotional roller coaster that included feelings that fluctuated between the like and dislike 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.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and comments are voluntary and completely my own.

Hudson has been avoiding his hometown for years, ever since his fiance called off their engagement, but when his little sister announces she's getting married in three months to a man he considers completely unworthy of her, he comes home to stop the disaster he expects their marriage to be. But his plans to avoid Dakota and the memories of her rejection crash and burn when it turns out that she's making his sister's wedding dress - and happens to live next door to his Airbnb. Dakota's business is struggling and she's not going to turn away business, even to avoid the man who chose his business over her. But she's determined not to fall for him again. Unfortunately, she gradually realises she never got over him. But the problems that separated them in the first place are still there - and unless they finally address them, their second chance is doomed...

A delightful read, even if Hudson's attitude sometimes drove me up the wall! I really enjoyed getting to know both Hudson and Dakota, even though Hudson in particular had some hangups that I found annoying - but that made it all the better when others pulled him up on them, and ultimately he worked through them (at least somewhat). The secondary characters (like Dakota's niece) really add to the story, too, though none particularly stood out as needing their own story - which leaves the field open! Hudson and Dakota are a couple who clearly belong together, but there was so much between them getting in the way that it was satisfying to see them finally get their long-delayed happy ending. An enjoyable story, with plenty of heart - looking forward to more by the author! 4.5 stars.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

This is a cute, quick read. It is easy to get into and the characters are sweet. It is a clean romance ( which I enjoy ). The two main characters have a history.

If you are looking for a quick escape that is very predictable - this is your book. There were no surprises and the ending was exactly what you would expect.

I really enjoyed both Dakota and Hudson. They were both super stubborn in their own way and still hung up on their past together. Neither of them got closure when they ended their relationship. However, now that Hudson is back in town, all those old feelings and questions are coming back.

I felt like this was a sweet story. Second chance romances usually aren’t my favorite, but I really liked how it worked out in this story. I liked the many “will they, won’t they” moments and the slow burn. Their reasons for their decisions made sense and felt realistic.

I really enjoyed reading about the side characters as well. Hudson’s aunt and sister really brought the story together, just like Dakota’s family and friends. I thought it was cool that a roller rink was involved.

Overall, I enjoyed this cute story. I would recommend this book is you enjoy small town, second chance romances.

Thank you NetGalley, Amy Clipston and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC for an honest review.

The blurb on this one grabbed my attention and I enjoyed the story. Second chance/small town vibes with a very slow burn. It’s almost zero spice but did have good dialogue and characters that kept me smiling. I would have liked their reconciliation to have come earlier in the story so we got more of their HEA.

With this Ring
Amy Clipston
Publication date: January 14, 2025
4/5 stars

This was my first Amy Clipston book and I’m excited to read more of her books. With this Ring is a sweet second chance romance. Dakota and Hudson find themselves running into each other in their small town since Hudson is back for his little sister’s wedding. Neither of them are looking to reconnect after their broken engagement years ago. This book was very easy to read and left me looking forward to getting back to reading it to see how their story unfolded.

Thank you Amy Clipston, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A sweet, wholesome love story set in the quaint fictional small town of Flowering Grove, NC. This is in the same universe as Clipston's other Flowering Grove novels, but it can definitely standalone. If you have read the other novels, you might hear a familiar name or two.
The positives: I loved the bridal shop setting (hello, say yes to the dress!) and overall, the leads had alot of redeeming qualities, though sometimes they were quite frustrating individually in their actions and decision making;
The negatives: I think Hudson was written too intensely at time. I didn't really think that he loved of money at the level all the characters were accusing him of. There is kind of a fine line between loving money and just being financially responsible and generous with your resources entrusted to you. And honestly, as a big brother he probably should have been concerned about his little sister. Love and romance is good and yes, that is the genre that the author is writing in, but being realistic is also good too. That being said, he was a jerk at times and way over the top and I was kind of reading it like the author was trying too hard to write him a certain way and lost the heart of his character. I think if she had toned down those scenes just a bit, it would have been much better and added more complexity to his character because he wasn't necessarily wrong in his concern.
The story came together at the very end, BUT we didn't get much of Dakota and Hudson actually together.
Overall, a sweet and enjoyable story.
Thanks #NetGalley and #ThomasNelson Fiction for the ARC.

Dakota Jamison owns Fairytale Bridal Shop in Flowering Grove, North Carolina. Despite her insurmountable challenges and the fact that she’s been nursing a broken heart for seven years, she’s determined to make things work. Hudson Garrity left Flowering Grove to pursue a career in New York. When his sister's upcoming wedding coincides with the sale of his company, he tells his business partner he’s going back home for three months before they start their next venture. Hudson soon discovers that the Airbnb is next door to Dakota, the woman who called off their engagement seven years earlier and ended his hope for love.

This book had me hooked from the start, with its charming small-town setting, a bridal shop, a roller rink, and Dakota’s love for both. The fact that Dakota and Hudson were feeling the same way about the break-up seven years later, was intriguing I kept asking myself, “Why are they not together?”

I was drawn to Dakota’s personality, straight away. I mean, any character who roller skates for fun, has the heart of this roller girl. Hudson was harder to figure out. His need to control everything around him while at the same time having a very loving heart smacked of childhood trauma. I wanted to love him and shout at him to just let it go all at the same time.

There is so much chemistry between Dakota and Hudson but they both fought it. Living in the past was keeping them in some sort of odd limbo. Hudson’s sister and aunt, along with Dakota’s friends and family, all had different opinions about what should or shouldn’t be happening between the two.

This book is everything a contemporary romance should be. Fun, sweet, and melt-your-heart good. Amy Clipston fans as well as those who enjoy small-town romance with true-to-life questions and happy endings will not be able to put this down.

With This Ring is the first book I’ve read by Amy Clipston. This book is a sweet smalltown romance novel that tugs at your heartstrings.

Dakota Jamison is living out her dream running her own Bridal Shop in Flowering Grove. She always wanted to stay in her hometown, settle down, and start her own business. She also teaches roller skating at the rink. However, between her business and teaching lessons, it has left her to have little to no time to have a relationship. She is also still heartbroken over her past relationship not working out.

Hudson Garrity made his dreams a reality when he started his own software company in New York City. He wanted to make sure that he was successful enough to take care of his Aunt Trudy and his sister Layla. Now that he has enough money, he wants to come home for a while to regroup and figure out his next steps. As he returns home for his sister’s wedding, he finally has to come to terms with his past and figure out what he truly wants for his future.

Dakota and Hudson’s story is a true testament to never giving up on someone you love. Both Dakota and Hudson remind us how communication is very important in a relationship. The chemistry that they have for one another is undeniable. You can’t help but root for them from the beginning and hope that they will figure out their relationship. I especially loved how comfortable and vulnerable they were with one another.

Overall, I highly recommend this book! I think that it’s a heartfelt story of second chances, never giving up on your dreams, and fighting for what you matters most.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you so much NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this eARC.

Oh what a tender book. This was so lovely. It felt all the right feels at all the right points. Amy manages to be just emotional enough with her characters but giving you the lighthearted and friendly moments too. There is two people here who left eachother last with broken hearts. He to her I might add. And can she forgive. Or even forget. And did he do the right thing all those years ago when spending time with his old love brings him all those heart pulls bacl again.
And in the midst of this should his little sister get married or should he carry on his mission to stop.this at all costs.
I think this book has it all. It's a quick read so you get to soak it all up in a quick gorgeous few sessions of reading.