I have not read anything by Pepper Basham but I enjoyed this book and her writing style.It is the 8th book in the True Colors series. It is based on a true story but fictionalized. The history behind this book is a courthouse massacre.
The main characters are quite well defined and believable. Ava is a spunky, young adult that was orphaned. Jeremiah is her childhood friend. The story revolves mostly around them. They are brought to life in this book and it's like reading about a friend of your friend. The story flowed well and kept my interest throughout. It was not boring at all and it was a book that was hard to put down at times.
This is a Christian book in a very good way. It is not preachy but shows how you can depend on God. It also shows that you can have growth in your Christian life.
The copy I read was ARC from Barbour Publishing and Netgalley. Sometimes ARC need more editing but this book did not. It was very well done and I would not have realized it was an ARC if I didn't know it.
I would recommend this book to my friends. I give it a 4 out of 5-star rating.

The Red Ribbon is a great addition to the True Colors Series. Well written with an edge of your seat plot. If you enjoy historical fiction you will not be disappointed. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Pepper Basham’s book The Red Ribbon is a historical fiction book based on true events from the Hillsville Courthouse Massacre in 1912. This book is very intriguing and really held onto my interest. I loved the main characters Ava and Jeremiah and I felt that their love for one another was beautiful. The characters are all very well developed and the story is something that a movie could be created from. I enjoyed reading about the outlaws and the culture of this town. I feel like a lot of the themes from this book are also relevant in today's society. This book perfectly mixed my love for true crime, historical fiction and a powerful female lead all in one.

Synopsis: In Carroll County, a corn shucking is the social event of the season, until a mischievous kiss leads to one of the biggest tragedies in Virginia history. Ava Burcham isn’t your typical Blue Ridge Mountain girl. She has a bad habit of courtin’ trouble, and her curiosity has opened a rift in the middle of a feud between politicians and would-be outlaws, the Allen family. Ava’s tenacious desire to find a story worth reporting may land her and her best friend, Jeremiah Sutphin, into more trouble than either of them planned.

What I loved most about this book was the fact that Basham included a historical note at the end of the book to inform the reader about exactly what came to be for all the characters involved. This would have taken immense research and I really appreciated the inclusion of this. I also appreciated the list of characters and a little blurb about each at the beginning of the book. I often referred to this throughout the book and found it helpful. Once I finished the book I read even more into the true events from this tragedy online.

If you like historical fiction that involves suspense, danger, and a little romance this is definitely the book for you! Thank you Netgalley, Barbour Publishing, and Pepper Basham for this advanced copy. You can find this one in stores in October 2020.

I was so excited when I found out Pepper Basham was writing an installment of the "True Colors" series! I so enjoy both the series and her writing, so I had high expectations of "The Red Ribbon" -- and it absolutely met them.

This is one of the few series installments I found I could read at night, lol; it wasn't "scary" or eerie like some of the others ("The Grey Chamber" comes to mind; a great book, but man, defo one for broad daylight!). Fans of Catherine Marshall's "Christy" book will certainly enjoy this read, also set in the Appalachians. I felt like I was right back with some of her characters!

Basham is from the very county she's writing about, which really lent an added depth to it. That can make things harder *or* easier to write about, and she did a great job at dealing with a tough topic and series of events -- especially where, as she notes in the afterword, descendants of those involved are still alive today!

Excellent read, and recommended.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Wonderful story! Gripping! I couldn't put it down! Ava and her best friend Jeremiah live in a small community in the mountains, where some families are in a feud with other families. One man is accused of crimes and there is a trial being held for him and all chaos breaks loose. It was a tragic massacre that historically it actually happened. Fascinating story throughout! I enjoyed reading this book and will probably read again and again!

This is going to be my favorite book by Pepper Basham! I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, but she makes me want to be. Ava and Jeremiah are both fascinating characters, and from page one as a reader I was drawn into the time period and conversation as if it played out before my eyes.

And may I mention that kiss?? As Granny Burcham would say, "There's some mighty fine writing going on here!'

If you like historical fiction that’s based on real events, you will find this book intriguing. Basham has created some memorable characters to join the historical figures in this story of the 1912 Hillsville Courthouse Massacre, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I had a hard time putting the book down, wanting to find out if Ava and Jeremiah manage to survive in the midst of feuding families, as well as figure out which are the good guys and which are the bad ones. I’ve enjoyed all of the books I’ve read so far by Pepper Basham, and this one is as well done as the others.

This book is part of a series called “True Colors -- a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime,” each written by a different author.

I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book with no obligation to post a review
#TheRedRibbon #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 3
Plot development: 3
Characters: 3
Enjoyability: 3
Ease of Reading: 4

Overall rating: 3 out of 5

Pepper Basham's The Red Ribbon is romantic suspense based on a true story. I love the way she weaves a romantic plot through a horrendous crime. She also manages to infuse humor and the gospel into this Appalachian Tale. I fell in love with Ava and Jeremiah and found myself cheering them on, also feeling their pain as events unfolded. The plot kept me guessing and Pepper sprinkled clues all through the story. So grab yourself a pot of sassafrass tea and settle back for Appalachian feuding with some spectacular kisses thrown in.

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen Matthew 28:20

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

Another winner in the true crimes series. All books in this series can be read as a stand alone book. I liked the pace of this book and the mystery element. The book has themes of trust and the power that gossip has.

I read this book in pretty much one sitting. The characters were well written although I have to confess that I love 'wolf' best! I like how these stories take real history and add a fictional context to them.

I got this free in exchange for an honest review. I liked it so much that I suggested it for purchase for libraries. I had read the authors others works and I recommend them as well.