One Gold Ring
Series: Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries #3.5
Author: Dianne Ascroft
Genre: Cozy Animal Mystery
Setting: rural Ontario, Canada early 1980s
Release Date: November 1, 2025, by Independently Published
Pages: 104
Summary:
One Gold Ring is a nostalgic festive novella in the Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries series. Set in December 1984, one year after Mistletoe and Murder, find out what happens when Marge takes her eyes off a very special ring for only a moment.
A busy shopping street, a cozy coffee klatch, a missing ring: Marge Kirkwood has no desire for anyone to gift five gold rings to her. She just needs to find one elegant gold ring sparkling with dainty diamonds and rubies: the one that was stolen due to her carelessness.
When Marge Kirkwood meets her friend Bruce Murray at the Honey Pot diner to reassure him about his choice of an engagement ring for her best friend Lois Stone, she couldn’t be happier for the couple. But a few moments of her inattention could scupper Bruce’s plans for a romantic Christmas proposal. A cunning thief seizes the opportunity Marge’s lapse affords to snatch Bruce’s family heirloom. Soon afterwards Lois arrives and joins Marge and Bruce in the search for the ring. Three heads may be better than one or two but Lois can’t find out that it’s her engagement ring they are hunting for.
And so the week before Christmas begins with dashing through the snow without a sleigh, tangy gingerbread muffins and cinnamon scented apple cider, clever calico cats, slippery snow-sheathed sidewalks, glittering gems set in gold, hazardous high-heeled boots, rushing thieves and bustling Christmas shoppers set against a cheerful holiday clad shopping street, sultry Christmas songs serenading shoppers in the market, the sweet scent of carnations, roses and baby’s breath bouquets in the florist’s window and a mantlepiece twinkling with shiny baubles and lights woven through holly in a comfy century cottage.
The Century Cottage Mystery series is mainly set in rural Ontario, Canada during the early 1980s.
Excerpt
Marge knew she would have to apologize properly to Bruce when she got a chance. What a stupid thing to do. She wasn’t usually so careless. But then again. Marge grimaced then quickly cleared her expression in case Lois noticed. What about the watch that belonged to the Titanic survivor a couple of summers ago? She’d just left it sitting out on her desk at the museum where anyone could see it. Look how that turned out. But the ring would be fine. No one would even notice it there on the table.
Marge heard boots softly thud to a stop on the tile floor behind them and glanced over her shoulder. Bruce stood there, his expression anxious. He glanced at Lois, who was still looking at the Specials board.
“Got it?” Lois asked him without turning around.
Bruce pulled his lips into something like a smile. “Yeah, don’t worry, we won’t have to wash dishes.”
He mouthed to Marge, “I don’t see it.”
Marge felt her heart pound. The ring had to be there. “Oops, my scarf’s going to slide off the seat. Be right back.” With a quick glance at Bruce, she hurried back to the table.
When she saw the empty tabletop, the sinking feeling in her stomach took all thoughts of food away. But the ring couldn’t be gone. She’d just left it there a few minutes ago. She reached for her coat and lifted it off the seat to peer under it then did the same with Bruce’s jacket on the opposite bench. Nothing. She glanced around the floor in front of the booth and under the table. The shiny gold ring should be easy to spot on the black and white floor tiles. But nothing there either. She glanced at the tables on either side of their booth, trying to avoid the diners’ gazes. No, nothing. She considered asking them if they had seen the ring but Lois might overhear her.
Glancing up at the counter, she saw Lois turn to look. She forced a smile and returned to stand behind the couple.
“Do we know what we want yet?” Lois asked.
“What do you fancy? Apple and cinnamon pancakes, I bet,” Bruce said.
“I’d like a gingerbread muffin afterwards with my coffee so I’ll take something lighter for lunch. Grilled cheese sandwich, I guess.”
Lois turned back to the counter and Marge tapped Bruce’s arm. “It’s not there,” she mouthed.
“You sure?” he murmured.
Marge nodded. She felt sick. How could she have let this happen? The gorgeous ring that Bruce was going to give her best friend was gone. She stared mutely at Bruce.
Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries Series
About the Author
Dianne Ascroft is a Torontonian who has settled in rural Northern Ireland. She and her husband live on a small farm with an assortment of strong-willed animals.
She is currently writing the Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries series. Out of Options is a prequel to the series.
Her previous fiction works include The Yankee Years series of novels and short reads, set in Northern Ireland during the Second World War; An Unbidden Visitor (a tale inspired by Fermanagh’s famous Coonian ghost); Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves: A Collection of Short Stories (contemporary tales), and an historical novel, Hitler and Mars Bars, which explores Operation Shamrock, a little known Irish Red Cross humanitarian endeavour.
Dianne writes both fiction and non-fiction. Her articles and short stories have been printed in Canadian and Irish magazines and newspapers. When she’s not writing, she enjoys walks in the countryside, evenings in front of her open fireplace and folk and traditional music.
Website | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub | Twitter | Newsletter
Giveaway
Prize: 1 eBook Copy and 1 Paperback Copy of One Gold Ring (Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries) by Dianne Ascroft. US AND CANADA ONLY
Tour Organized by:
To find all the tour information, click the banner at the top of the page.
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Thank you for dropping by! So, what do you think of One Gold Ring by Dianne Ascroft? Check out the other stops and enter the awesome giveaway if you have time.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
Baroness’ Book Trove is an Amazon affiliate, meaning that if you click the link and purchase something, this blog gets a tiny percentage back. Mainly, this helps with the cost of the website and a few giveaways.
Thanks for sharing One Gold Ring with your readers, Karen. I hope they enjoy it.
Dianne