Five Stolen Rings

by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

FIVE stolen rings, FOUR calling birds, THREE French kisses, TWO falling in love, and a Partridge in a pear tree...
Stella Partridge never expected to move back to her hometown. She never expected to be a house-sitter for the twelve days leading up to Christmas as a desperate bid to earn some extra money. And she definitely never expected to recognize the thief that breaks into the house she's Jack Piorra, her childhood best friend, the one who turned cold and distant overnight and never told her why.
Jack insists there's something in this house that belongs to him. But Stella's not going down without a fight--not in house-sitting, and not in love. If only locking the windows and doors could keep Jack from stealing her heart...
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FIVE STOLEN RINGS is a wacky romcom mashup of Home Alone and Twelve Days of Christmas, perfect for fans of love, laughter, and holiday warm fuzzies!

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Contemporary, Audiobook, Clean Romance, Second Chance

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2024

About the author

Gracie lives in a tiny town in Idaho, where she subsists on a diet of chocolate, romance novels, and kisses from her cute family. She may or may not have a cheesecake addiction, as well as an addiction to scribbling story ideas on whatever flat surfaces happen to be nearby. Clean romance, romantic comedy, and mystery rom coms are her passion.

Reviews

[Alysha (For The Love of Christian Fiction) · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing about Gracie Ruth Mitchell…she’s gonna get me a giggling and a gagglen! She writes some of the best characters, both main and side, and some of the best towns. So you ALWAYS want to go back and get another character’s story! (*cough* BENNY *cough*)

I loved the history Stella & Jack had! I’m coming to find that I’m DIGGING stories where the characters feel SEEN & KNOWN. They feel like home to each other. Makes my sappy heart all ooey gooey.

Their banter from the beginning was *chefs kiss* GIMME ALL THE FLIRTATIOUS BANTER! Their “hate to love” was a perfect balance between “we need to clear the air” and “CHEMISTRY”. I appreciate that they actually communicated with each other though and had good conversations.

I would’ve loved more “Home Alone” pranks, but also see that it probably would’ve been dangerous to Jack’s wellbeing. 😂

Maude was an intriguing lady, and I kinda need to know her story now.

Overall it was an adorable romance! And while it technically takes places around Christmas, I’d say you could read it at any point.
4/5 stars


*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

The vibes:
- Fake dating
- Childhood friends
- Christmas setting
- Chaotic
- Closed door

My thoughts:
OK, so there were some moments about this romcom that I really liked. I liked the chemistry between Jack and Stella, and I thought they had some very cute, flirty moments throughout the book. I loved Jack’s occupation and his interactions with Stella throughout the story. I loved how Stella was so direct with Jack and what she wanted. Those moments between them were my favorite.

As for the reasoning of my rating, I had a hard time understanding Jack’s personality. I also felt like the criminal aspect of this book may just not be for me (as a major rule follower, I struggled. )🙈

The nickname Princess was used a lot in this book- over 50 times although it felt like much more as I was reading it. I truly think I may have connected with the story and characters more if I wasn’t being pulled out everytime I saw “Princess”.

There were some moments throughout that occurred that left me confused or just felt random - like the mention of Jack being a goth, or the weirdness of Maude, or the period incident. And then the significance of the phone call just fell flat for me. It just seemed like a lot going on, and I think it made it hard for me to stay invested.

I think that if you enjoy a chaotic and unhinged story and wild energy, then you might enjoy this one. I think it was maybe too much for me personally, but I’ve seen many who have loved this one so much. So check out other reviews for sure.

Note- closed door

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

IN LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM

Oh this book is utterly charming and an absolute delight for the holiday season. If you don’t have time for many this year, LET THIS BE ONE OF THEM. I loved it so much. It had the perfect level of holiday shenanigans and let me tell y’all, it had one of my all time favorite tropes, a man who is gone for the FMC. I dare you to not swoon during his POV.

I loved all of the banter, it’s cheeky and sassy and incredibly flirtatious. The little flashback moments did a great job of setting up the present story line and I liked that the high school drama didn’t become an overwhelming issue as adults. Communication was key and I loved the way that Stella and Jack found their way back to each other.

This book reminded me of why I love reading holiday romances. The spirit of the season, some amazing heated kisses and sweet family and friends moments too. Five Stolen Rings has it all, it’s under 300 pages which I know is a highlight for many seeking something engaging and quick for this time of year.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book 😭😭 such a cute holiday romance, made me laugh so much ♥️


" I want you, more than I have ever wanted anything in my life. Body, mind, and soul - all of your laughs and your cries and everything in between. I want them. You are my heartbeat."

[Susannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This author is incredibly hit or miss for me, and this one was indeed a miss.

The pacing was so languid—like nothing really happened in the book. The sparse chapters back in time were disjointed with the story and so short that they left me wanting more of their backstory.

I could not relate to and was not interested in the characters. The plot holes within each character were too much to bear. Their incredible immaturity, combined with their lack of empathy, left me annoyed by them both. Not to mention the several grammatical errors within the story.

I was disappointed, to say the least. I skimmed the last two chapters and epilogue because I simply didn’t care anymore and couldn’t force myself to read another word.

[Dianna Harnist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I have a different standard for Christmas books. This was sweet.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the Home Alone aspects with Stella booby-trapping the house (though not in a mean way like Kevin McAllister did in the movie). I also liked that she watched the movie to get some ideas and it was fun to see her implement them. The romance was cute enough - it’s a childhood friends to more story, but I would have preferred more Home Alone elements which made the book feel unique. I was going to give it a 3.5 and possibly round up to a 4 until the rando scene at the end where Stella gets her period. What WAS that? What did that have to do with anything? Why was it in there at all??? It really detracted for me. Stella’s hangup on the phone call was strange to me as well. This was a cute read overall but definitely more focused on the (re)connection between the characters than the Christmas elements.

[Kate Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been so excited for this one, and it delivered! We love believable enemies and a heroine who knows what she wants. And the Christmas vibes! 😍

Recommended for adults due to the romance and humor.

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never thought I’d say this, but I wanted more Home Alone-inspired silliness. There’s a bit of it at the beginning, when Jack breaks into the house Stella is house-sitting to search for some rings. But as the story progresses, that fun, chaotic energy fizzles out. I guess I just expected something different.

The banter between Stella and Jack was fun, with plenty of underlying heated tension. My weakness! However, and this is definitely a personal quirk, the romance was completely ruined for me by a nickname. Jack calls Stella “Princess” constantly—56 times, according to a Kindle search—and it really pulled me out of any potentially romantic moments.

I mostly enjoyed the stolen ring storyline, but there’s a side plot involving a past earthquake and a mysterious phone call to Stella that felt oddly placed. It was framed as a huge secret for reasons I just don't understand. And then there’s a scene at the end where Stella unexpectedly gets her period. I have to mention it because it was so out of the blue and dragged on in a way that felt completely unnecessary. This was very much a miss for me.

(heat level: kissing only)

[Lissa Ruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Jack & Stella's sweet, heartbreaking, laugh out loud, caring, forgiving, loving, swoony happily ever after!!!

[Paris (parismaereads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Quick Takes:
- 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
- Language 🤐 none
- Spice ❤️‍🔥 kisses only
- Content considerations 🤔 discussion of extramarital affair
- Tropes 📖 he falls first, childhood friends to more, fake dating

I actually did enjoy the premise of this book, but it fell flat for me in some areas. I’ve read previous books by this author and absolutely loved them and this one just missed the mark for me. There were a few instances where things could’ve been fleshed out or clarified for the reader had the editing timeline been less rushed (as shown on Instagram by the author) While I don’t know the writer’s editing process, I think a few good beta readers could’ve helped clear up some of the issues I had with the narrative and details.

Will continue to read books by Gracie Ruth Mitchell because I love her quirky characters and writing style/voice. I listened to the audio and absolutely loved the female narrator, Rylee Kuberra.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute and cozy read! 🥰

This book alternates between two POVs: Stella & Jack. They were childhood best friends but their friendship fell apart during their high school years. Unexpectedly their paths crossed once again when Stella is back in her hometown to help with a random job to housesit as well as taking care of pets.

Props to the author Mitchell for her ability to thoroughly portray the character’s personality and way of thinking through their POVs. Stella is an absolute sweetheart. Her chapters clearly reflect that. With Jack’s chapters, you can clearly see when his thoughts spiral. How he sabotages himself sometimes.

🌟5 stars 🌟 solely because of how this book makes my heart smile.

[Tricia Anson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In true Gracie fashion, this book has tons of hilarious banter, amazing tension, and lots of laughs—layered with some deep themes. This is a perfectly fun and swoony Christmas story with second chance and friends to more vibes and a sprinkle of Home Alone.

Things I loved:
-Stella Effect
-Texts
-Flashbacks
-The Phone Call
-“‘You deserve better,’ I snap, standing up. ‘Who you really are deserves better than what you’re settling for.’”
-Claiming his dance 🥹
-Bedroom window
-“‘And naturally, when one panics, one…steals jewelry?’ I say. ‘I’m missing the connection.’”
-“I really lucked out with my family. My parents are alive and happy and loving, and there are no half-naked portraits hanging anywhere in their house. It’s the little things.”
-“But I guess, looking at it from his perspective, answering a ton of questions would be nice. Because it means someone is present enough and cares enough to ask.”
-Good old Barb
-Maude encounter 😂

Honesty, I just loved this entire book. I was cracking up, tearing up, and dying to get back to it every time I had to set it down. It was so hard to narrow down favorite quotes too! Don’t miss out on this perfectly delightful Christmas read!

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet, second chance holiday romance involving stolen rings, estranged best friends and some toxic workplace BS. I thought it was good on audio but just lacked that Hallmark Holiday movie spark I was looking for. The chemistry between the two main characters just never gelled for me. With how many Christmas books there are this year I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this one but if you're looking for a heartwarming holiday story involving rings, definitely try The wake-up call by Beth O'Leary or Five gold rings by Kristen Bailey.

[Morgan Giesbrecht]

Filled with Gracie’s classic stroke of banter and shenanigans, this Christmas book delivers on the weird, the wonky, and the bizarre.

If you love a rom-com where former childhood best friends reunite in their 30s after Stella was a totally mean girl in high school and ditched Jack. Except now he’s an ER doc and she’s a recently fired architect, slinking home for the holidays. Chaos and denial and attempted burglaries ensue.

It was cute & crazy, but ultimately I didn’t connect to it, so it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. :)

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious Banter!

The only thing disappointing about this book is that it sat on my Kindle unread for six months! I didn’t realize what I was missing!

Stella and Jack were the perfect friends/enemies to lovers. They had great chemistry and banter, and Stella was usually getting into embarrassing mishaps. This book has a dose of holiday cheer, a little crime, a creepy house, and a relationship with the perfect amount of push and pull. It also had some upfront communication! How’s that for a romance book?! So refreshing!

[Whitney Begley · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were many times this book made me cringe. But there was one line that made me physically recoil to the point that I startled others in my family.

“I may be a lone wolf, but Stella… Stella is the moon I’ve always howled at.”

What is this???

[Jeanine Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun book! Gracie Ruth Mitchell is the Queen of epic first kisses. Like kisses that would melt your face off!

[Micah (micahs.bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved! It was funny, romantic, and all around adorable! I loved the banter and learning about the history these childhood friends had as they begin to reunite and get to know each other again.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

YES YES YES . SLAM DUNK

[Whit · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this with high expectations. I really loved the author’s “Happily Ever Homicide” series. I got so attached to those characters and the stories seemed so thought out and I couldn’t put them down. Maybe part of me expected more of that in this book.

But it felt very disjointed and incomplete to me. I couldn’t describe to you in any way what Stella or Jack’s personalities were. Also, Jack’s incessant need to refer to Stella as “Princess” was a big turn-off for me. I could’ve stomached it once, maybe twice. But it’s constant. Almost every time he addresses her in this book, he’s calling her “Princess”. It starts out as more of a teasing name in the beginning and then becomes a term of endearment towards the end. I understand where the author was trying to go with that, but it always took me out of the story. These characters didn’t feel real, if that makes sense? I couldn’t imagine people in real life speaking or thinking the way that these characters do. At one point, Jack’s internal monologue is: “I’ve always been a lone wolf, but Stella is the moon I’ve always howled at.” I’m not usually one to cringe throughout a book, but this one was really hard for me😐

There’s also not much that really happened in this book. The major plot was that Jack wanted his mother’s rings, which his stepmother was holding onto for some unknown reason that was never actually addressed unless I tuned out and completely missed it. All of the sneaking around and building it up as some big heist just for her to basically say “here you go, take them” at the end without any fight. Then there’s the whole reason Jack is upset with Stella. He has been harboring a grudge against her since they were in high school because he overheard her friend talking badly about him. Stella was even sticking up for him, but apparently not enough by his standards? That spurred years of angst for this man and is the sole reason he decided he doesn’t like her anymore and I just don’t really understand it.

Another plot point I really didn’t like or understand was the earthquake phone call. She’s always wondered who the mysterious man was who called to check on her after an earthquake happened in her town. It was a simple phone call. “Hey are you okay? Yes? Okay, take care.” And that was enough for her to wonder for years about who that caller was. Also, the bar is so low if a man calling to make sure you’re alive after a natural disaster is what makes you realize he’s the one😅 I’m also still trying to figure out the period scene at the end. It felt like filler and incredibly random to the story and what was going on at the time.

Anyway, I was just really disappointed with this one. It doesn’t compare at all to some of her other stories I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and it surprised me how much I had to force myself not to DNF it 😕

[Jennalee · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The strange and slightly far-fetched circumstances in which Stella and Jack reconnect aside, I enjoyed this book. Stella is confident, even amid her struggle with feeling like she failed at her job and came back home with her tail between her legs. I really admired her the whole book. We’ve all had experiences that have broken us, but she never let that interfere with what she would accept from Jack.

“Yep. Intelligent, competent, a little too cocky, handsome, thoughtful. But,” she adds severely, “I am so uninterested in emotional games. I do not have the time or the patience. So for now, we’re friends. We don’t talk all the time, we don’t hang out every day for no reason, and we definitely don’t kiss. Got it?”

And then later, “Give me one good reason you can’t go on a date with me,” she says. She holds up her pointer finger. “One single reason. Because you like me, Jack. And I like you. So if you have a reason, tell me. At least then I can—” She breaks off, laughing bitterly. “I can move on, or something.”

Confident and knows what she deserves, Stella is awesome!

And Jack, the moody, broody ER doctor coming in with his vulnerability, but willingness to try. *swoon*

“I don’t have a good reason,” I grit out. “Except that—” I sigh. “I’m scared, okay? I’m just—afraid. And I don’t know how much time I can devote to a relationship. I don’t know if I want to get married⁠—” “Whoa,” she cuts me off, her eyes widening. She holds both hands up; I should have brought gloves for her. “Who said anything about marriage? I’m talking about one single date, just to see how it goes⁠—” “If I date you, I’m going to marry you,” I say, throwing my arms up in exasperation. “Good grief, Princess. Do you think I can date you and then let you go?”

All in all a fun, Christmasy read with relatable characters.

💍 Then I do what any woman alone in a creepy house would do: I find the biggest frying pan I can and practice wielding it like a weapon. Because what—am I supposed to call the police because the door rattled? No. Obviously not. This is not a horror movie. This is a Stella-has-an-overactive-imagination movie. But me and my overactive imagination will feel a lot better if we have something heavy and metal by our sides. Just in case.

💍 I’ve never felt less holly jolly. And yet…the world moves on. Even when time slows for me, the rest of the world keeps going. There’s something reassuring about it—knowing that my struggles aren’t the center of the universe, knowing that time marches on regardless of what’s happening to any one person.

💍 No one else could hold me like this—tightly, desperately, yet somehow gently, as though I might break. I won’t. I might bend sometimes; I might stumble and fall and scrape my knees. But no matter what happens, I won’t break. I refuse to break.

[Alicia (aliciasalwaysreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Christmas romcom
Content: makeouts, some innuendo, loss of parents (past)

In true GRM fashion, this book is a hoot! I bought a paperback without reading the book first, which has only happened one other time for me; I do not regret this decision in the least. It’s a mashup of Home Alone-style antics and the 12 Days of Christmas, and it’s DELIGHTFUL.

Stella is trying to find her footing after being (unfairly) fired from her job. She’s back home in Lucky, CO and desperate enough for money to take a house sitting job for Maude. Y’all, Maude’s house 😳🤣
As it turns out, Maude married the father of Stella’s ex-friend, Jack, after their friendship fell apart. Imagine Stella’s shock when she encounters Jack inside the house she’s watching.

The banter between these two was amazing! Their push and pull was just so fun. I really enjoyed the flashbacks to their youth.

Jack has been GONE for Stella since they were kids. Watching him fight his feelings for her was so entertaining. Stella is figuring out who she is and what she wants out of life, and I love how she sticks up for herself when it comes to Jack and his seemingly reluctant feelings.

All I have to say is that I’m here for the HEA. (But y’all already knew that.)

Favorite Quotes:
🎄 He looks like a holly jolly hottie, which is not great for my clarity of mind.

‼️ The future is more important than what we've left behind, and I don't know that we can wait around for all our wrongs to be righted. Sometimes I think we might have to move forward anyway—even when life has been unfair. Even when the bad guys won, or the other team cheated and beat us down.

🥰 "He's..." Home. He feels like home. And safe—secure. He's always been that way for me.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

“You’re figuring things out. And that’s okay.”

“You are my heartbeat.”

* Oh man, I think I’d die 😂
* Their whole dynamic is hilarious
* Yessss. Fake dating!
* The situations this girl gets herself into hahaha
* Get it, girl!
* I’m also trying to learn how to fail properly 😅
* I am positively melting at the sweetness!
* Awwwwww

This was such a fun and sweet story! If you’re looking for something Christmas though, this is not it. Christmas is barely mentioned. But I wasn’t even disappointed since I read it in May!

Stella is so relatable to me. Like, in so many ways. And I loved getting to watch her.. find herself a little bit, and figure out who she really is and wants to be.

And oh Jack. He is a man obsessed and we are here for it! He was so gruff and protective and it was so obvious he loved and cared about her.

It was really just so fun! Gracie’s books are always such a good time.

“I think I called her princess because I had one day planned to make her my queen.”

“He feels like home.”

“I’m not ready for the way I feel about you, Stella. You’re not ready for the way I feel about you.”

[Jesica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was adorable & a perfect read for the holiday season. It had me giggling & swooning. It’s described as a wacky romcom mashup of Home Alone & Twelve Days of Christmas… I a couldn’t agree more. It’s a best friends to enemies to lovers with some unrequited love. I absolutely loved Stella & Jack. The banter will have you giggling & Jack will have you swooning. If you are looking for a quick light & absolutely adorable holiday romance this is it!

“FIVE stolen rings, FOUR calling birds, THREE French kisses, TWO falling in love, and a Partridge in a pear tree...” Stella Partridge life hasn’t gone as planned & she finds herself having to move back home after being fired from a job. For a little extra cash she ends up house sitting when a childhood friend breaks into the home while she is feeding the animals. Jack is trying to find five stolen rings… when Stella tries to prevent Jack from breaking in chaos ensues.

[Kim Golding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh! This book was adorable in every way! I wanted to see how it all worked out, but at the same time I didn’t want it to end!

Stella and Jack were childhood friends who went separate ways years ago. Now, Stella has lost her job as an architect and his house sitting for a wealthy lady in town, and Jack is….a thief?

These two have such a fun enemies to more vibe going on, add in some fake dating at their class reunion (that leads to quite the kiss!), a history together, some insightful flashbacks, and some extra time sent together, and you have such a fun story!!

Don’t sleep on this one! It’s so, so fun!!

[Jody · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book surprised me.

I was not expecting this to be massively profound. I wanted a lighthearted Christmas book. In the beginning, this totally hit the mark!

And then it got weird. Like, really weird. The pacing was all over the place. There is a stupid, inconsequential subplot storyline. Christmas suddenly goes out the window. And then the worst thing happened. I got the ick. Irrecoverable ick. The main male character refers to the female character as “princess” in a chauvinistic way, there is the most stupid miscommunication trope, the story got lazy, the list goes on and on.

I’m thinking this is a 3 and I just am being harsh because it went downhill so quickly I couldn’t pull the parachute quick enough to DNF.

[Dev G · Rating 5 out of 5]

So stinking cute. The perfect Christmas mashup I didn’t know I needed.

Stella and Jack….I’m laughing, I’m smiling, and I’m full of the warm fuzzies.

Their history, their chemistry, and their banter are what Christmas reading dreams are made of.

Mixed in with all the silly holiday shenanigans is some heartfelt reconciliation. Something everyone can relate to—the teenage insecurities and longing to be liked and fit in. I loved how this was handled.

Unique and a bit quirky. This one is oh so cute and fun! One of my new favorites!!

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friends to enemies to lovers

Jack and Stella have the best chemistry but they really don’t want it! I loved watching them dance around each other as they figure out what they really want. Throw in a little breaking and entering with some seriously hot kisses and you’ve got the perfect little Christmas romcom! And even though the chemistry and kisses are hot there is no spice!

[Kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of holiday fun with good character growth, back-and-forth, and kiss scenes. I was charmed and think if you’ve previously enjoyed GRM’s love stories, you will like reading “Five Stolen Rings,” out now!