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Ashley Stockingdale #3
With This Ring, I'm Confused
She's got the rock, so when does happily ever after kick in? At long last, Ashley Stockingdale-patent attorney, fasionista, and homeowner-can finally add "fiancee" to her spirited resume. That means the next four months will be a dizzying and decadent waltz through aisles of Vera Wang, Kenneth Cole, Sheridan sheets, Kate Spade place settings, and Oneida flatware. Well . . . maybe not. For starters, the HR department has hired Ashley's ex-boyfriend (yep, the one who ran off to India with that other woman) as the new director of software. And now her fiance is starting to sound crazy-something about moving across country, to Philadelphia of all places. Worst of all, right before her eyes, Scarlett I-need-some-Prozac O'Hara is hijacking her wedding plans! Life for our heroine is spinning from out of control to downright confusing. But whether she makes it to the end of the aisle or not, she'll never be at a loss for drama!
294 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2005
14 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
Kristin Billerbeck
63Ìýbooks605ÌýfollowersAbout Kristin
I grew up with a strong sense of justice. I simply knew the way things should be. And since I’m not smart enough to be a district attorney, I am a novelist. My childhood was slightly confusing. I blame my parents for this. Oh heck, I’m going to blame them for everything. I think I would have turned out normal if it weren’t for them.
the billerbeck's
Okay, probably not. I am a fourth-generation Californian, and an American mutt, but identify most strongly with my Italian heritage. My mother’s family, of strong Norwegian/German descent, tried to teach me how to do things right. How to cook, clean, sew, budget accordingly � all the things a proper young girl should know to be a contributing member of society. I, however, failed miserably. For my 40th birthday, my grandmother gave me a cookie gun, so it’s clear she hasn’t given up on me yet! That is eternal optimism!
My dad’s Italian family taught me about the good life. The indulgent life. How to eat, shop and be merry. My Nana had very tiny feet and a penchant for shoes (she worked at the Emporium, no doubt to fund her shoe addiction). My afternoons at her house had no lessons, other than how to walk in her high heels, drape myself in her mink stole and drip myself with rhinestones. Tastefully, of course. I picked up on this lifestyle much quicker.
I graduated San Jose State University with a degree in Journalism & Mass Communications (emphasis in Advertising), gave my life to Jesus during college and found my true love in a Christian Singles� Group, which yes, I skewer in “What a Girl Wants�. He is German. Practical. And a Contributing Member of Society. I am still Italian, fluffy and an aficionado of fine shoes & handbags.
Together, we have four children and now it’s our turn to confuse them. The circle of life. Dysfunctional family style.
I grew up with a strong sense of justice. I simply knew the way things should be. And since I’m not smart enough to be a district attorney, I am a novelist. My childhood was slightly confusing. I blame my parents for this. Oh heck, I’m going to blame them for everything. I think I would have turned out normal if it weren’t for them.
the billerbeck's
Okay, probably not. I am a fourth-generation Californian, and an American mutt, but identify most strongly with my Italian heritage. My mother’s family, of strong Norwegian/German descent, tried to teach me how to do things right. How to cook, clean, sew, budget accordingly � all the things a proper young girl should know to be a contributing member of society. I, however, failed miserably. For my 40th birthday, my grandmother gave me a cookie gun, so it’s clear she hasn’t given up on me yet! That is eternal optimism!
My dad’s Italian family taught me about the good life. The indulgent life. How to eat, shop and be merry. My Nana had very tiny feet and a penchant for shoes (she worked at the Emporium, no doubt to fund her shoe addiction). My afternoons at her house had no lessons, other than how to walk in her high heels, drape myself in her mink stole and drip myself with rhinestones. Tastefully, of course. I picked up on this lifestyle much quicker.
I graduated San Jose State University with a degree in Journalism & Mass Communications (emphasis in Advertising), gave my life to Jesus during college and found my true love in a Christian Singles� Group, which yes, I skewer in “What a Girl Wants�. He is German. Practical. And a Contributing Member of Society. I am still Italian, fluffy and an aficionado of fine shoes & handbags.
Together, we have four children and now it’s our turn to confuse them. The circle of life. Dysfunctional family style.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
April 8, 2012
This book is the third and final entry in Ashley's life, and I have to say I'm kind of glad.
The storyline: "With This Ring, I'm Confused" basically chronicles Ashley's life as she tries to plan her wedding, keep her job, and keep from strangling her future in-laws.
My opinion: Ashley always seems to have so many "problems", things that really aren't that big of a deal, and yet she always blows these things way out of proportion. Yes, I can understand some of her issues concerning the wedding, afterall the bride should be the one to decide on her own gown and the theme (or no theme) of the wedding, not her future sister in-law who has bad taste. But Ashley just stresses over everything so much more than necessary. Even her friends tell her so, but she still continues to stress and freak out about stuff. She could be so much happier if she would just calm down and relax a bit. I feel sorry for people who actually live like that....
So as I said, I'm glad to be done with this series. It's not that I really disliked it, I really was curious to find out what would happen to the characters... it's just that Ashley's whining and over-reacting really kind of put a damper on things for me. So while this series hasn't been my favorite, I still give it two-and-a-half to three stars. Also, I do recommend Kristin Billerbeck's stand-alone novel, Split Ends.
The storyline: "With This Ring, I'm Confused" basically chronicles Ashley's life as she tries to plan her wedding, keep her job, and keep from strangling her future in-laws.
My opinion: Ashley always seems to have so many "problems", things that really aren't that big of a deal, and yet she always blows these things way out of proportion. Yes, I can understand some of her issues concerning the wedding, afterall the bride should be the one to decide on her own gown and the theme (or no theme) of the wedding, not her future sister in-law who has bad taste. But Ashley just stresses over everything so much more than necessary. Even her friends tell her so, but she still continues to stress and freak out about stuff. She could be so much happier if she would just calm down and relax a bit. I feel sorry for people who actually live like that....
So as I said, I'm glad to be done with this series. It's not that I really disliked it, I really was curious to find out what would happen to the characters... it's just that Ashley's whining and over-reacting really kind of put a damper on things for me. So while this series hasn't been my favorite, I still give it two-and-a-half to three stars. Also, I do recommend Kristin Billerbeck's stand-alone novel, Split Ends.
February 24, 2025
The author does a good job describing how to organize a wedding can be maddening at times. She also describes how sometimes one has to work or compromise in a relationship. A marriage and/or a relationship is not all about what one person wants. Each person has to think about what is best for the relationship.
December 30, 2018
There's so much I liked about this book. The characters are so well developed. Some moments are hilarious. Some are maddening. The author does a good job of showing that marriage, or the wedding, is not happily ever after.
September 18, 2017
Cute book...good end to a trilogy... drug out for me though as some parts details were redundant.
November 23, 2017
Super cute book about a bride planning her wedding. I loved it considering I’m planning my own wedding right now!
February 7, 2018
I liked the main character and the story was just good, quick fun to read. Yeah, it was predictable but who cares when you're just looking for something frivolous?
February 27, 2020
Cute read.
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September 4, 2007with this ring i'm confused by kristin billerbeck[return:][return:]publisher/date/no. of pages:[return:]westbow, 2005, 294 p.[return:]plot summary: what happens, when & where, central characters, major conflicts[return:]ashley stockingdale should be enjoying this time of her life--she's about to get married, her job is going well, her sister-in-law just had a baby. but her wedding is being taken over by her in-laws, her ex-boyfriend just got hired at her company, and her mom is too focused on being a grandma to help her much with the wedding. ashley thinks all of this equals a crisis of huge proportions, of course, and this leads to scenarios like her having to be bailed out of jail while wearing a "gone with the wind" wedding dress. true love and faith get her through and help her learn how to get along with her in-laws, make sacrifices for her family, and give in when it's really important.[return:][return:][return:][return:][return:][return:][return:]style characterisics: pacing, clarity, structure, narrative devices, etc.[return:]ashley is truly out of control and even neurotic at times! i don't know how her fiance puts up with it, except that he is never there and that he acts like the perfect beau when he is. this book is mostly fun and frivolity, an escape from reality though the situations may be easily related too. but the characters are clear exaggerations--though i found myself identifying with kay, ashley's put together housemate. [return:][return:]how good is it?[return:]just for fun.
May 4, 2012
Thank goodness the series ends in this book. As you can see from my review of book 2, I found it to be a painful and annoying series to get through. I finished it in hopes that somewhere along the way Billerbeck would redeem the picture of Christian single women she had painted but alas. My dreams died along with the last paragraph.
In this third, and final, title in the Ashley Stockingdale series Ashley is a bride who is struggling in different ways with her self-absorption. Her fiance's family is more self-absorbed than she and so you can see the potential for friction. And there is friction. Again Billerbeck had an opportunity to write Ashley's character practicing some good doctrine but again Billerbeck fell short. Instead she has Ashley, and Ashley's fiance, practicing people pleasing (the Bible calls that fear of man) and being a doormat in "the name of Jesus". UM. That's just a wrong picture of Christ all the way around. While he was gentle and firm with people and was gracious he was never a doormat and doesn't really call us to be. "What about turn the other cheek and all that?" All I can say is read that in context.
I was filled with immense gratitude to be done with the series and now I'm looking at the other Kristin Billerbeck books I have on my "to read" list and thinking that I probably won't give her another shot. There's so many good books out there that take advantage of the opportunity to paint a realistic picture of a particular stereotype that I don't need to be reading the books that just encourage it.
In this third, and final, title in the Ashley Stockingdale series Ashley is a bride who is struggling in different ways with her self-absorption. Her fiance's family is more self-absorbed than she and so you can see the potential for friction. And there is friction. Again Billerbeck had an opportunity to write Ashley's character practicing some good doctrine but again Billerbeck fell short. Instead she has Ashley, and Ashley's fiance, practicing people pleasing (the Bible calls that fear of man) and being a doormat in "the name of Jesus". UM. That's just a wrong picture of Christ all the way around. While he was gentle and firm with people and was gracious he was never a doormat and doesn't really call us to be. "What about turn the other cheek and all that?" All I can say is read that in context.
I was filled with immense gratitude to be done with the series and now I'm looking at the other Kristin Billerbeck books I have on my "to read" list and thinking that I probably won't give her another shot. There's so many good books out there that take advantage of the opportunity to paint a realistic picture of a particular stereotype that I don't need to be reading the books that just encourage it.
March 28, 2010
I can't help it -- how lame am I that my guilty pleasure is totally Christian chick lit? But, you know, this is just like when I started reading in the first place: I don't have anyone girl friends in my life who really struggle to be close to God and make good choices. Not ones with whom I can reflect on my constant failing to do so and my subsequent need for grace.
I would like to write a book that is not part of a series, with a character who is less the ubiquitous Christian Bridget Jones that I keep encountering in these books. Sort of a Kristin Billerbeck-Jami Attenburg-A. Manette Ansay situation. That may be my next project; I just can't really relate to wanting to find a Good Man. When I was single, I was more interested in finding a Good Job and moving to a third world country. I don't know, maybe making your protagonist Christian and female narrows the market enough that in every other way she has to be That Girl.
I would like to write a book that is not part of a series, with a character who is less the ubiquitous Christian Bridget Jones that I keep encountering in these books. Sort of a Kristin Billerbeck-Jami Attenburg-A. Manette Ansay situation. That may be my next project; I just can't really relate to wanting to find a Good Man. When I was single, I was more interested in finding a Good Job and moving to a third world country. I don't know, maybe making your protagonist Christian and female narrows the market enough that in every other way she has to be That Girl.
February 17, 2009
My local Christian book store was having a liquidation sale, so I bought this book which is the third (and final) installment of the Ashley Stockingdale series. I had read the previous two a couple of years back and then gotten off the series because Billerbeck was a little too churchy-preachy for me (granted, I'm a Christian, but rather than you coming right out and telling me what she's struggling with and how she's overcoming it, or not, just let me figure it out on my own). Anyway, I decided it might be good to read how somebody else is writing about virtue and waiting... something that I did not find in hardly any of the afore-mentioned YA novels. Billerbeck's still super preach-y, but Dr. Kevin Novak is a dream, and if you're in to Christian chick lit, you can't get much better than Billerbeck.
October 9, 2010
Overall, this book is funny but irritating once you just can't settle what's wrong with the lead character. It makes me feel weird that being Christians mean you suppress your anger and get along with everyone. Isn't that just being kinda hypocrite? I guess being Christian means you love everyone and NO HATE shall ever exist. It just weird. I thought we have emotions therefore that's why we're humans and having bad feelings towards someone who is taking over our lives is pretty much normal. At least to me. Ashley Stockingdale is just too irritating at times but she also have her funny moments. I just wish she would have taken her life in more control before freaking out like that in public but I do like the series. I have no intention to read the rest though cause it is tiring just reading about her ever-so-nice-no-hate life.
November 22, 2011
I felt the first book in this series was the strongest of the three. As the series went on, I found Ashley to be too materialistic and whiny and found her more and more difficult to relate to as a character. In the first book, she was smart and funny and strong, but not without flaws. In this book, I just found her to be annoying. The issue of being Christian in the 21st century is certainly important and questions appear in this book about how that can work, but in the stress of creating the perfect American wedding, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of message this might send to women preparing for marriage. The book is meant to be a fun piece of chick-lit though and as such brings this series to a satisfying conclusion with the marriage of the main character.
June 2, 2014
I picked up this book not knowing that it's the third book in a series. I only discovered that it's the last book of the series when I was already halfway through. Some characters' backgrounds (not the main ones) were a little difficult to understabd because they are probably explained more in the first two books. Nevertheless, I liked the humor and sass in almost every page! Ashley actually surprises me for keeping a calm head while dealing with all the crazy struggles in her life. Despite being a lawyer, she still has the spirit of a little child and maybe that's what I love most about her. I don't know if I'll be searching for the first two books but if I happen to come across it, I definitely wouldn't mind reading it.
September 26, 2007
This is the third book in a three part series. The first is "What a Girl Wants", which I loved, and is by far the best of the three. The second is "She's Out of Control", which I also enjoyed. This one, being the third was not quite a good as the others. I feel like it kind of rambled on and got a bit tiresome. I think this series would have been better had it been condensed into just two books. I am, however, excited about this author and look forward to reading some of her other series (Spa Girls). I love that she's written some fun, hip books for Christian women in the 20's-30's age group.
January 13, 2011
I finally made it through the series *laughs*, "finally!?" more like, "already!" *giggle*
Good stuff, it's so good, I'm so very afraid I'll be hard pressed to find anything of this caliber anytime soon... starting off in the world of Christian Chick-Lit with the master, may become my down fall!
It all makes me want to find my very own prince Charming (as if I have any power in that process), have a fabulous wedding, and move along knowing full well God has über awesome plans for us both!
Again, enjoy, read whole-heartedly, share... just make sure it gets back to me eventually!? K!? thanx... *sighs wondering what to read now!?*
Good stuff, it's so good, I'm so very afraid I'll be hard pressed to find anything of this caliber anytime soon... starting off in the world of Christian Chick-Lit with the master, may become my down fall!
It all makes me want to find my very own prince Charming (as if I have any power in that process), have a fabulous wedding, and move along knowing full well God has über awesome plans for us both!
Again, enjoy, read whole-heartedly, share... just make sure it gets back to me eventually!? K!? thanx... *sighs wondering what to read now!?*
March 25, 2013
Overall, I enjoyed the Ashley Stockingdale series. It was cute and fun, even when Ashley got on my nerves (which did happen quite a bit). This last book was pretty good, but it wasn't my favorite.
October 6, 2013
I didn't feel as though I connected with any of the characters, as there was an apparent lack in the development of emotional/intellectual depth. However, I thought the portrayal of Christian relationships was strikingly honest. No one is perfect, and everyone struggles at some level (even Christians) to be the person God is calling them to be. As was demonstrated in this book, bestowing love and grace to those around us should be a DAILY priority. Overall this was a light, moderately entertaining read. I got a few chuckles out of it anyway!
February 5, 2010
I have thoroughly enjoyed the Ashley Wilkes Stockingdale trilogy, ending with this humorous read that did leave me guessing for a while - will there or won't there be a wedding? Kristin writes with great wit and style, you can't help but laugh over the characters she paints. And she does it so well. And as an added bonus, I have gone to the Ashley school of fine dresswear, learning all there is to know about the great fashionmakers out there!
September 3, 2009
I read the other too books in the Ashley Stockingdale series this summer as well. I actually think I enjoyed the first two books a little better. This book does a nice job of tying up all the loose ends along with adding some new and interesting characters and plot twists. The thing was it also got a little annoying at times. It is still worth reading I just enjoyed the other two in the series a bit better.
August 15, 2012
Not crazy about the third book of the Ashley Stockingdale series. I was stressed out the whole time reading it, it had a very different feel to it compared to the first two books. Very busy and overwhelming. I didn't feel like I was reading about the same characters here and the Christian values were not consistent to the first two books. I lent my book to a friend who read the other two books and she felt the same way.
May 6, 2013
Cute story and I really liked how this series ended, but Ashley just keeps getting whinier! For a title character in a Christian novel, she seems so shallow and self-centered for much of this book. Sure, she's a bride, but I would have liked to see more of the caring Ashley who stands up for her friends and her beliefs, like in the previous book. Nevertheless, the development of her relationships with her girlfriends and Kevin by the end, and of course the wedding, were very heartwarming.
August 5, 2014
This series was humorous but I realized as I got to this third book that the characters were all over the top chariactures that got really annoying by the end. I found myself feeling like I couldn't like any of these people if I knew them in real life because they were all obnoxious. The only thing that saved it from being absolutely horrible was that the author made them more like real human beings in the final two chapters which made it at least worth finishing the trilogy.
August 25, 2008
This was definitely a "Laura" book. Meaning, all that bride/wedding stuff and all the drama that goes with it. I had a hard time getting sleepy as I usually do when I read right before bed. Instead I would stay up too late to read "just one more chapter". Definitely a "girly" read, but I thought it was fun and a change of pace from my usual criminal/mystery books.
February 18, 2009
With a title like this, I expected to be more stereotypical. I loved the twists and turns along the way. The whole dress debacle, alarm going off etc, is amusing. I liked the conflict between the two main characters during the entire engagement process showing that real life isn't without strife.
August 5, 2009
The third and final installment in the Ashley Stockingdale series. Ashley's trip to the altar takes some hilarious (and down right frustrating!) twists and turns, but in the end Ashley finally figures out exactly what she wants, how she wants it and who she wants it with. A fitting ending to the saga of Ashley. A fun, light summer read.
October 14, 2009
Ashley is engaged and this book takes us through all the craziness she has to deal with in planning her wedding. As much as I liked the Ashley Stockingdale series, I have to admit that I'm glad this was the last installment because I'm not sure if there's anymore challenges that the character can go through without making the story drag on.
August 23, 2010
Oh my word. Can I just tell you how much I've enjoyed this book and this series? I am sad that it's over; I wish it kept going. Very identifiable. Very relatable. Very well-written. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a confident woman and knowing what you want and dreaming for/of "THAT DAY."
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