The Ornament of Hope: A heartwarming small-town Christmas romance

by Georgia Curtis Ling, Virtual Voice (Narrator)

An artsy Appalachian town…A miraculous ornament of hope…A divine appointment with love. Following the advice of her therapist, SHAUNA MURPHY left her dream career and nightmare life behind in the big city. She made the dreaded trip home for the holidays to spend with her Christmas crazy family in Spring Valley, Tennessee, a heritage-crafters haven. She wasn’t convinced reconnecting with her family roots would be a cure-all, but she had nowhere else to go, except home. She finds moving forward from past trauma is no easy task. Nestled in the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains, her hometown enveloped her like a cozy quilt – wrapped her in comfort to calm and heal her hurts. When GABE ANDERSON, a Northerner, moved to the South with his new bride to manage her family’s historic inn, he never imagined in a few short years he would be a widower, living alone in Spring Valley. After his tragic loss, just when Gabe began living again, he suffers another life altering event that leaves him questioning his future and purpose. An avid hiker, he finds solace in the mountains – his refuge, his sanctuary. After retirement, ADA TAYLOR joined the little downtown business community and opened the Mockingbird Coffee House in an historic church building. It was perfect for Ada, since she also claimed the title, First Lady, at the AME Zion Church. She was known for her traditional Southern desserts, but what really drew people to her coffee house was her listening ear and tender heart. As a prayer whisperer, she made sure every cup of coffee had an extra-shot of blessings. On more than one occasion, she was guilty of playing matchmaker. It turns out to be a favorite hobby. When Ada recruits Shauna and Gabe to sponsor a wishing ornament of hope from the Giving Tree, they are miraculously chosen to be teammates. Together, they begin their wish granting mission to help provide assistance to struggling families in need. Along the troubled journey they find an ordinary Christmas ornament is an extraordinary symbol of the hope, love and joy to be found in giving.

Audible Audio

Published November 14, 2025

About the author

Experience the rich tapestry of Appalachian storytelling that will ignite your imagination and inspire your spirit.

A bestselling, inspirational storyteller of hope-fueled fiction, Georgia was born and raised in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Eastern Kentucky. Influenced by her heritage, Georgia has a unique voice in Inspirational Christian Fiction with her contemporary Appalachian tales, including the Christian suspense series: The Pastors’ Wives Club, which features bestselling novels that can each be read as a standalone, includes the #1 Amazon Bestseller But There Were Signs and When Daylight is Gone. Georgia retained the title of the “Pastor’s Wife” for over twenty years. She knows the parsonage inside and out. She and her husband, Phil Ling, live in Central Kentucky.

Her bestselling Christian romance novels in the Spring Valley collection including The Ornament of Hope, Santa’s Promising Christmas, A Christmas Blessing for Gracie, Carol of the Winter Songbirds, and the upcoming 2026 release The Baker of Christmas Wishes work perfectly as standalones. Georgia is the author of the bestseller, What’s in the Bible for Women, the Moms in Faith Bible study series, In Mom They Trust and Mom’s Lead in Love. Over her career, Georgia’s work has appeared in numerous periodicals and thirteen bestselling inspirational collaborative books.