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“I’ve imagined my wedding dress since I was a little girl.” Ashley begins her tale. Only her imagination could never have taken her down the road she’s upon. Her fiancée’s sister Emily has stepped in as wedding coordinator with southern-Atlanta-GonewiththeWind ideas which leave Ashley longing for the church single’s group.
Only her love for Kevin might keep her on the right course.
Ashley Wilkes Stockingdale, thirty-something, is ready to give up her singleness and become a doctor’s wife. However, the family she’s about to enter causes her some fear and trepidation. If that’s not enough, her ex-boyfriend Seth joins the company where Ashley works. Now she’s face-to-face with the man who left her and mixed feelings stir in her heart. Is Kevin the man God intended for her life? Or Seth?
Kevin’s residency plays havoc with his relationship. His life is owned by the hospital, and his caring heart won’t let him leave patients when he can. He tries to understand Ashley’s loneliness, but doesn’t succeed. When he’s offered a career spiraling opportunity in another city, the answer seems clear to him. GO! But Ashley doesn’t want to leave the Silicone Valley.
Kristin Billerbeck has spun the conclusion to the Ashley stories with her talented witty form. The realities in life Ashley must face rip her from
her comfort zone, and she’s not sure she likes it. Maybe she should stay single, stay in The Reasons church group. And what will she do with the over-bearing sister-in-law-to-be? Turning the other cheek only gets harder as the wedding day approaches.
Billerbeck’s story is savvy and hilarious. From the mundane pedicure to an outrageous wedding dress, readers will join in Ashley’s angst and laugh at the outcomes. This reader truly enjoyed the tale and highly recommends it! Ten stars, in my opinion.
Reviewed by Eileen Key
for The Road to Romance
February 3, 2005
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With This Ring, I’m Confused is set in the Silicon Valley in California. This third, and final, volume in the Ashley Stockingdale Chick Lit series is witty and entertaining.
Ashley Wilkes Stockingdale is a patent attorney for a software company. In the last book she left her company and went to a new one. She is now successful, engaged, and planning the perfect wedding. And she has definite ideas what that wedding
should be.
Kevin Novak, Ashley’s fiancé, is finishing his residency in pediatrics, so he works long hours. He loves Ashley to distraction, and he is willing to sacrifice a dream job for her to be happy.
Seth, Ashley’s former boyfriend, comes back from India and gets a job at the new company where Ashley works. Emily Novak, Kevin’s sister, becomes her wedding planner, but instead of working with Ashley’s ideas, she changes everything into something Ashley hates.
This book contains the witty language of chick lit with a flair. Following the life of Ashley in California as she flits from coffee bar to shopping is a fun read. With some series, a reader likes one of the books more than the others, but Kristin Billerbeck succeeds in giving readers three wonderful books. I highly recommend With This Ring, I’m Confused.
Reviewed by Lena Nelson Dooley
for The Road to Romance
February 11, 2005
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Ashley Stockingdale has imagined her wedding day since she was a little girl. Now that it’s finally drawing near, she’s finding out that planning a wedding is akin to a Southern nightmare straight from Gone With the Wind. Combine this with a job that frequently takes her out of the country and a fiancé who seems to live only inside a cell phone, Ashley is beginning to consider elopement.
When Ashley discovers that her ex-boyfriend, Seth, is now employed by the same company she works for, she is convinced the world is caving in. How can she handle working in close quarters with a former love, plan a wedding with a man she never sees, and handle a future sister-in-law who insists Ashley has the perfect Southern wedding, complete with ruffles and a tunnel of Confederate swords?
The final book in the Ashley Stockingdale series, WITH THIS RING, I’M CONFUSED is hilariously funny. Readers will want to read the first two books in the series so they will have some clue what has happened as the books all are tied together. I grew to care for Ashley and wanted to see her have the wedding of her dreams. Some of the things that happen disappointed me, but not enough to make me want to get rid of the entire series of books. The Ashley Stockingdale Series are books I’ll want to read over and over again—whenever I need a good pick-me-up from laughter.
Pick up WITH THIS RING, I’M CONFUSED for a read you won’t soon forget. You won’t be disappointed.
Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton
for The Road to Romance
February 11, 2005
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Get ready to laugh with the last of the Ashley Stockingdale series. In this book we meet the groom Kevin’s, very southern family as they ‘help’ Ashley get ready for the big day. But, when the groom’s sister fancies a civil war era theme and won’t even let Ashley order the gown she desires, Ashley’s stuck between a rock (the sister) and a hard place (trying to make everyone happy.) How can she make peace amongst confederate swords and swaying hoop skirts?
Not only is the wedding going on, but Ashley’s job as a patent attorney is as hectic as ever with big corporations encroaching on her companies patents. And, a not so great surprise awaits her as the new head of software development arrives. Before she can react to that, her roommate is finally ready to get jazzed up and Ashley jumps at the chance to make over her friend. Only trouble is, roomie wants help just not a lot of help – Ashley doesn’t do anything in small doses.
Of course, author Kristen Billerbeck’s writing always brings a smile to my heart, and this time is no different. I thoroughly enjoyed, With This Ring I’m Confused!, and am sorry the series has ended. Unlike most recent chick-lit I’ve read, The Ashley Stockingdale series has a unique voice and isn’t like a clone of the books gone before.
If you’re a fan of fun and want to read something fresh with a subtle Christ message you need to read this series.
Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Linda Mae Baldwin
for The Road to Romance
February 15, 2005
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