(3.5/5 Stars)
The Christmas Ring was my first Karen Kingsbury book, and while I found it heartwarming, it didn’t completely win me over.

The story follows Vanessa, a military widow searching for a lost family heirloom, and Ben, an antique dealer who helps her on the journey. Their connection is sweet and slowly builds into romance, but the emotional stakes felt a bit predictable. The plot has some nice twists, especially around the history of the ring, but the pacing lagged in places.

Faith, love, and second chances are central themes—uplifting, though occasionally a bit too on-the-nose. Still, it’s a warm, comforting read with a satisfying holiday atmosphere.

If you enjoy gentle romance with a touch of mystery and strong Christian values, this is a cozy choice for the season. I liked it enough to check out more from Kingsbury.

A story of hope, faith, and love during the Christmas season, combined with the chance of a miracle. It begins with the backstory of Vanessa's paratrooper great-grandfather finding the ring on D-Day, thus beginning the heirloom story.
Vanessa, a Gold Star widow, lost the ring during a sledding outing with her daughter, Sadie. She leaves flyers around Breckenridge, offering a reward for its return, before returning to Georgia. Over the years, she scours antiques and vintage shops, always searching for the ring. She never gives up faith that if it's God's will, the ring will be found.
Four years later, she stops for gas in a small town and looks in a nearby Christmas-themed antiques shop. Striking up a conversation with one of the owners, Ben, she tells him about the ring, and they form a friendship. 
As her friendship with Ben has developed, she asks him to the fundraiser dance benefitting military families she founded, finally opening up her heart to love again. Ben has also lost a spouse, and Vanessa is the first woman he has had feelings for, too.
Vanessa receives a call that her ring may have been found, but it has been accidentally shipped to a customer. The antiques dealer promises to try to find the ring. The thought of the ring being returned gives even more hope to the Christmas season.
A beautiful story with twists and turns, family drama, the potential of being reunited with the ring, heartfelt tenderness, and starting over, it delivers on the magic of Christmas and the season for miracles.

I have gotten ever book Karen Kingsbury has written and this one has not disappointed. This one is going to be made into a movie too btw . It has everything , clean romance a Christmas story and emotional scenes.
It has everything you would want in an Karen book
I highly recommend it if you read her books or even if you’ve never read her before .
Thank you Net galley for the arc

When time is short during the busy holiday season, a Christmas novella is the perfect solution for an avid reader The Christmas Ring by Karen Kingsbury is a welcome addition to my collection of seasonal reads by such authors as Donna VanLiere and Richard Paul Evans. It is a heartwarming story that brings out all the emotions, Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

I am a huge fan of this author, and this book did not disappoint.

A very Christmasy story, two widower‘s starting over, a college freshman trying to figure out a life, a fantastic town with huge ties to the military community, and the inspiration of the true meaning of Christmas all come together for one really good read

The Christmas Ring by Karen Kingsbury
3.9⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0.2/5
Cursing: none
Format/Source: ebook ARC from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing
Genres/Tropes: Christmas romance, inspirational, military romance
Settings: 1944 France; 2021 Colorado; 2025 GA
Audience: YA
Characters: Vanessa, Ben, Sadie, Ella, Hudson, Bella, Howard, Leigh, Marie
👍 short chapters, multi POV, Christian book with scripture, palate cleanser, easy read
👎 very predictable

Description:
Vanessa's great-grandfather discovered a beautiful gold and ruby ring buried in the dirt at Normandy on D-Day. It gave him hope when all hope seemed lost and came to be known as The Christmas Ring as it was passed down through the generations of their family.
Years ago, though, Vanessa lost the ring shortly after becoming a military widow herself and has scoured antique stores ever since, hoping someone found it. After dropping her daughter Sadie off for college, the "Christmas in July" sale sign she sees passing through Marietta seems the perfect distraction before returning to her now-empty house. She doesn't find the ring, but she does find something completely the co-owner of the store, Ben Miller, makes her smile in a way she hasn't since losing her husband. Their friendship blossoms throughout the fall, and as Christmas nears, it's clear that something more is developing.

My Opinion:
Karen pens an adorable inspirational military romance during Christmas! The short chapters and multiple POV made for an easier read. I adored that this was an inspirational story with Scripture dispersed throughout the novel. I appreciated that there is no cursing to pollute the storyline. The plot was quite predictable; however, that can be enjoyable at times... and made the book quite the "palate cleanser." I was entertained by this novel and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys clean inspirational romance novels.
#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #romancebooks #militaryromance #booktok #karenkingsbury #christmasromance
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

While this was a powerful story of love, loss, and hope, I was surprised by how heavily it leaned into religious messaging. As a devout Christian, I appreciate faith in fiction—but the frequent Bible verses and constant prayer felt excessive and somewhat distracting from the heart of the story. The narrative around the lost and recovered family heirloom was beautifully done, and the exploration of grief and healing was deeply moving. Overall, a touching novel, but the emphasis on convincing the reader that 'God is the answer' felt too forceful at times.

I used to read everything Karen Kingsbury wrote, I now work at a school library instead of a public one. Luckily it was summer when this book came up. I was intrigued by the description and decided to try it. It was a solid read with likeable characters who draw you into the action. Although some plot items were predictable, the strength of the story and the characters pull you back in to the story. Kingsbury wrote an amazing story for the holiday season.

This was the first time I read something by Karen Kingsbury: A Heartwarming Holiday Story, which explores themes of second chances, faith, overcoming loss, and redemption.

Vanessa and her daughter go on a ski trip. While sledding, Vanessa loses her ring—a ring with deep sentimental value...the Christmas Ring that has been in her family since her great-grandfather found it on D-Day. Along the way, she meets Ben, whose father owns an antique store. Hoping her ring might be there, she stops to look. When Ben and Vanessa meet, there's an instant connection. Both widowed, both cautious, they gently navigate the beginning of new relationships.

It's a clean, cozy Christmas read full of warmth and quiet emotion.... A Christmas story that honors the military and emphasizes faith, family, and helping others.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson. I received a complimentary copy of this book.

Kingsbury presents a Christmas story about a military widow and her daughter. When on a holiday ski trip, the widow loses a special ring that has been passed down for generations in her family. The widow looks for the ring for years contacting antique dealers, etc. The story is very predictable our heroine and her daughter face challenges --one of which is the mother entering into a relationship--and here the ring enters into the story. This book is already set to be a movie for the holiday season--so think happy endings and faith. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

Vanessa, a military widow, loses a family heirloom. Throughout the novella it covers a few years where she meets Ben and sends her daughter off to her first year of college. Will she ever find her ring? This is my first Karen Kingsbury book, and it was decent. A sweet typical Christian Christmas novella. I liked the idea of the story. Reminds me of Hallmark movies. I just don't know that I will remember much about it in later years.

Another great book by Karen Kingsbury! I couldn’t put it down. Such a great Christmas story filled with faith and family.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and all opinions are my own.

Thank you, Thomas Nelson Fiction for this Advanced Reader Copy!

Karen Kingsbury knows how to write a heartwarming tale and The Christmas Ring is no exception. This story was as cozy and warm as a Cinnamon Dolce latte at the annual Tree Lighting in your small town. It was a wholesome and positive read, perfect for the upcoming season.

Following the trials of Vanessa and Sadie’s changing mother/daughter relationship as they each had their own independent struggles was down-to-earth and relatable by any mother or daughter. The simultaneous search for the missing ring kept me on my toes to the end. Such a cute Christmas story!

This is the first book from the author and the description of the book made me want to read it. I love stories that are set around Christmas and love. We first meet Vanessa and her daughter Sadie as they are trying to move on with their lives after her husband was killed in action while saving another’s life. While enjoying the time sledding, Vanessa realizes that she lost her family’s Christmas ring that has been passed down through the generations. We learn how the ring came into existence at the very beginning of the book. The story then continues with Sadie going off to college and Vanessa stopping in a small town to get gas and goes into the antique store hoping that she might find her ring. She connects with the store owner’s son, Ben and they become friends as they share a connection with a list loved one. As their relationship grows and they are on their first date, Ben suddenly has to leave. Will they get back together in this season of miracles?

Loved the depth of these characters and the love of God that the held. Their trust in God and His timing was uplifting and was something I needed to hear. Loved the ending when it all pulls together!

Karen Kingsbury is the queen of Hallmark-esque stories and this one did not disappoint. The Christmas Ring was a light, predicable, comfort read that made me feel all the feels. Can’t wait to reread this with a glass of cider by the soft glow of a Christmas tree.

This was the sweetest Christian faith-based romance ever. No drama. No ups and downs. Just sweet and precious. Reminds you of the power of prayer. I loved it, and I can’t wait to see the movie when it comes out! I needed something like this after the heavier books I’ve been reading lately.

I received this as an ARC from our good friends at NetGalley.

This was a great story for the holidays filled with hope, love, family, overcoming loss, second chances, and holiday romance. It had the feels of a Hallmark Christmas movie which I always love. Even though I read this book in July, it still gave me all of the warm fuzzy feelings as if I was reading it during the Christmas season. I have read most of Karen Kingsbury’s books and I enjoyed this one just like all of her others but I will say it wasn’t my favorite Kingsbury book. I still really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others, especially to read during the holiday season. I felt it gives the reader hope for overcoming challenges and reminding them that God is in control and has a plan.

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

#CampNetGalley

Home isn’t a place, it’s the people you love. That was a constant theme in this book. The story starts with a soldier the morning of the D-Day invasion where he finds a ring that gives him hope of returning home to the people he loves.
The ring is passed down through the generations until it’s lost. The rest of the story concentrates on loss and hope, including hope that the ring will be found. I found myself tearing up in several places. Close to the end of the book there was a moment where I actually gasped out loud and started crying. Another great book by Karen Kingsbury. looking forward to seeing the movie this Christmas.
Thanks, netgalley and Thomas Nelson for this arc.

A ring brings so much love and hope. During the war a ring is found and with it brought more than you expect. Such a sweet story of love surrounded by a Christmas gift. It has a pleasant feeling of warmth, forgiveness and redemption. It develops at a fair pace and it's a quick but lasting read.

Christmas is a time of surprises, love, memories and miracles. Karen Kingsbury brings all of these together in the pages of this wonderful read while honoring the fantastic members of our military.