I enjoyed reading The Red Ribbon by Pepper Basham. This novel takes place in the Blue Ridge Mountain area during the early 1900s. Families in that area were poor and some managed to make money by making and selling moonshine. Because families and their kin were all involved in this “business”, sometimes tempers flared and fights broke out if one family was thought to be stealing each others’ business. At times innocent people were caught in the crossfire and suffered the consequences. Even if you were in some way thought to be in league with a rival, you could pay the price.

I enjoyed reading about the Blue Ridge Mountain region. I know that this activity was prevalent during this time and that the law was sometimes involved. I thought that Ms. Cox handled the dialect of the region and was also able to show just how poor some of the people lived. I hope Ms. Cox writes more in this genre. I would highly recommend this book to my friends.

I was quite enthralled with this story. It’s based on the courthouse tragedy in 1912 in Hillsville, Virginia. Lots of things, good and bad, happened in the Appalachian mountains. Woodworker Jeremiah and budding author Ava are the main characters. They’ve been friends since childhood and Jeremiah is aware of all the predicaments Ava can get herself into. There have been some unusual deaths in the area and Ava decides to write about the “goings on” for the local paper. She has to use a pseudonym since they won’t accept anything from a woman. After lots of incidents, there’s a trial at the courthouse and Ava and Jeremiah are both witnesses. Things get a little crazy and out of hand. I recommend this book to anyone who loves historical romance.

What a wild ride this book was! So many twists and turns. I was excited to find out that Pepper Basham wrote a new book so I had to read this one. I love her writing. Anyway, this is a story based on true events. Mystery. Suspense. Romance. Faith. Drama. I loved reading Ava & Jeremiah’s story. Both characters were great in their own ways. Both dealt with grief in their past so it’s no surprise they connected and became close friends. I loved how they both cared for each other. The drama with the infamous Allen family was interesting as it unfolded. The story gets more interesting especially towards the end. The spiritual message was woven really nicely, too; how God loves us and is always with us despite the circumstances. I recommend this book.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In the 8th book in the Colour Series, Pepper writes about a young independent girl, Ava, who finds it difficult to stay in her expected place in society during the early 1900's. Pepper has successfully mingled the life of Ava and her beloved Jeremiah into the historical account of the Courthouse Massacre in 1912, in a small hick town of Hillsville.
Ava finds herself in the middle of a shoot out because of her curiosity to see that justice is done. Many at that time were making their own liquor and profiting illegally. Ava had lost her father due to a deal gone bad and ever since she had been determined to see that justice was done.

Unfortunately this time, she just went a bit to far and became involved in a life and death scenario after helping a solo mother and her daughter seek freedom and befriend a young man, Jeremiah.

Ava, placed in a situation that would not suit the fainthearted and unable to be certain who she could trust. With the courage of a mountain lion Ava see's her break and takes it; not knowing if Jeremiah or the law will find her in time.

The Red Ribbon although a bit slow for me in parts, I enjoyed reading Pepper's account of this historical event combined with love, hope, trust, courage and determination; often not able to put the book down.

Suspense. Romance. History. Faith. These are the things that you’ll find woven beautifully together between the pages of this book.
I absolutely loved the main characters. Their personalities were endearing and their struggles real. Their relationship was beautiful and solid—even amid pain, insecurities, and danger.
The suspense and mystery were handled well, keeping me guessing until the electrifying climax.
The faith elements were neither overdone nor too subtle—they shone out naturally thorough the character growth and plot, and even saturated a few gorgeous scenic descriptions.
And speaking of gorgeous descriptions, the setting was as much a part of the story as any character. At times, I could feel the last rays of the setting sun on my cheeks, and hear the rustling of trees in the night. By the time I closed the book, I was longing to experience the unique wild serenity of the Blue Ridge Mountains for myself, and yet, I felt that I already had.
Not once did any aspect of this books overpower another. The suspense, romance, character growth, setting, plot, and faith elements all complemented each other to form a stunning harmony.

(I received a complimentary of this book from the author for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.)

The author hit the ball out of the park with The Red Ribbon. I absolutely adored this story. It had suspense, romance, humor and nuggets of wisdom galore. The Red Ribbon is one of Barbour's True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime novels. Each can be read as a standalone. I have really enjoyed this series. This one definitely had a different tone than the other books. The story centered around a real crime, The Courthouse Massacre of 1912, in Hillsville, Virginia. However, the tone was not quite as dark as some of the other books in the series.

I attribute this to Pepper Basham's unique voice which is full of Appalachian sass and humor. The story focuses on bootleggers, the generations long feuds of Appalachia and the sweet people that call Appalachia their home. Ms. Bashum definitely knows how to pen a sweet romance and a first kiss. But it is her older characters, filled with grit and mountain wisdom, that draws me into her stories. Everyone needs a Granny Burcham in their life. The author's unique sayings had me literally laughing out loud.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a well written book that has just the right amount of suspense, drama, mystery and romance to keep you turning the pages. I love how the author wove fiction and fact together to write a wonderful story. Ava and Jeremiah's story will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. Thank you Barbour Publishing for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own..

do believe that this is the best book I have read in the true colors series! I have loved Pepper Basham's contemporary stories and this historical romance set against the backdrop of a real massacre was really good.
I loved the way the author kept dropping the little nuggets of wisdom in the story. It had me grabbing ahold of those truths and looking for the light in the story. I really loved how Pepper Basham wove fiction into nonfiction. I had never heard of this incident before and I really felt immersed in the setting with Pepper's perspective.
I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All opinions are honest and completely my own.

A beacon of hope.

There is no denying how much I enjoy a Pepper Basham story. You can count on me being one of the first in line to read one of her books. When I saw that she would be continuing to one of the best collections to come out of Christian fiction, I squealed with joy. I mean, hello—Pepper kisses plus True Color crime equaled one amazing combination.

Now, some of the stories in this collection are rather dark—The Gray Chamber and The Blue Cloak come to mind, but not The Red Ribbon. The suspense and mystery are present as we have come to expect, but the “kissing author” put her own twist on it in such a way that romance only readers will enjoy it.

Jeremiah and Ava are cute to read as they navigate the waters of “friends to more” and then thrust into the middle of a town feud. Ava’s struggle to overcome her fear and show her strength as her own woman is admirable but I get the feeling that she doesn’t want to be so independent that there is no room for Jeremiah to have a place. And his gentle pursuit of Ava in his waiting is swoon-worthy. He doesn’t rush or push—he also doesn’t hide what is in his heart either.

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher through CelebrateLit. A positive review was not required.

Not my favorite Pepper Basham book, but still a good read. What I love about Basham's writing is the slow burn romance. This one lacked the anticipation and longing, focusing more on the mystery than the romance (although there are still some trademark Basham-style sizzling kisses). It was an interesting story (made more interesting by the fact that it's based on a true story), and while I figured out "whodunnit" fairly early on, it was still an enjoyable read.

This was one of my favourites in this series. The feud between all the families were interesting, especially the way everyone perceived the Allens. The way the character Sid was portrayed, the way he helped others in need, did not make him a villain in my eyes as others viewed him.

The fictional plot in between the actual historical events were interesting, action packed and at the end very suspenseful. I knew early on who was involved but didn't realised till the end just how involved.

I just loved Jeremiah and Ava. They were such cute couple and meant for each other. I just loved the romance - it was sweet and innocent and Ava's view on kissing made me smile a few times.

The Red Ribbon by Pepper Basham is Christian Historical True Crime. Life is hard especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains but God is always the answer.
There were exciting adventures to keep my interest even though some seemed unrealistic. The fictional details were well woven into the historical true crimes.
The characters lived their faith no matter what they faced. I always enjoy reading about the background, the history and the real people behind the fictional story. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 4 Stars

I’ve really enjoyed reading this series! Each author has written such great stories based on factual events.

The Red Ribbon held my attention from start to finish. I was caught up in the story Pepper Basham weaved. The characters in the book were very interesting and I loved how the relationship developed between Ava and Jeremiah!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

I’m going to start by saying that suspense books are generally not my cup of tea… But when Pepper Basham writes them, apparently they are! I absolutely fell in love with Jeremiah from minute one. He’s the kind of hero that fairytales are made of— strong, honest, honorable, and so plumb crazy in love with Ava it wasn’t even funny. I loved Ava‘s spunky fearlessness and her deep yearning for validation in a world that have an always treated her the kindest. Their Friends-to-More love story was woven in between the real life details of the Courthouse Massacre, which took place in a time and location I knew very little about. It was deliciously suspenseful, wildly romantic, deeply spiritual, and filled to the brim with some of the best kisses this side of the Appalachians! I absolutely adored it.

This was my first foray into this True Colors series and honestly I only read it because I’m a Pepper Basham fan for life! It was definitely different than her normal books but her writing style still shone through and she got some of those famous kisses in!
I thought it was interesting how the crime in this story took place in the author’s home town so it was a story and area she was very familiar with and that came through in the writing.
Jeremiah was such a great hero and I loved the way he was hardworking and kind and the quiet way he loved Ava.
Ava was a bit too reckless with her safety at times but she had a desire to see justice and truth prevail.
The two of them made a sweet couple and I liked watching their friendship finally turn into more!
All in all it was an enjoyable read and I’m sure fans of this series will love this installment!

Another engaging story in the True Colors series based on real events. The author chose the 1912 tragic courthouse massacre in her hometown of Carroll County Virginia to create this story. Ava and Jeremiah are perfectly woven into the event in a realistic manner. I loved spunky Ava and her quest for the truth. Recommended!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I had a hard time putting this one (True Colors series entry) down! The story centers around a fictional couple (Jeremiah and Ava) who overcome great odds to be together. The backstory is the infamous Hillsville Courthouse Massacre. Although Ava has endured extreme hardship in her young life, she comes to see the blessings of God through the people he puts in her path. Jeremiah is a kind, gentle, loving hero who perseveres in his pursuit of Ava. Various characters from the true-life story appear and Basham seems to do them justice since no one really knows who fired the first shot. A beautiful story coming out of tragedy.

I enjoyed this book. It's a back woods,
Christian historical novel that takes place in Carroll County, which is also the place where Pepper Basham grew up. There is a hidden love between 2 friends who have been friends forever and Jeremiah seems to always help Ava get out of trouble which makes her angry and embarrassed aft the same time! Ava likes to snoop around and try to uncover things happening around town (like whose running liquor), and always seems to almost get into trouble when Jeremiah comes along to rescue her. Ava wants to uncover big stories and write for the newspaper. Jeremiah is badly worth the life he leads and would like nothing more then to have Ava at his side.
When suspicious things start happening in town (like the death of a young man who would likely have never taken his own life), things start getting interesting. This book is full of family feuds, drama, love, and a sweet old Granny who has a heart as big as the mountain she lives on.
Some things I really loved about the book were the quotes by Granny Burcham or Grandaddy Sutphin at the beginning of each chapter. There were some very strong characters, both make and female. One of my favorite parts is when a young man is coming on a little too strong with Ava and the woman of the house comes out and threatens him with a frying pan, then when he leaves says, Come on girl, let's go have a cookie or two and leave the stink outside." It reminded me of my beloved neighbor and I was laughing so hard I was crying! I could picture it happening in my head. Pepper Basham has an amazing way of describing events you have no trouble getting lost in this book and being able to picture each character, building and event in your imagination!
This book also has wonderful things said by different characters to make you think of God in a different way. Ava struggles with faith and her Granny helps her in a lot of ways. A quote from the book that I really love, comes from Granny Burcham and she says, “This ol’ world is full of dark and light. Dull and bright. Good and bad. God shines in bright colors. So bring as many of those into life’s shadows to help you make it through, and His light will change the view in the darkness.” I loved these insights from Granny Burcham and other characters.
A couple of things I didn't like. The book takes place in Carroll county, however, we aren't told where that is....... unless you read the dedication by the author, or near the end of the book can figure it out from some major towns that are mentioned that are nearby. But that's close to the end of the book. It would've been nice to know exactly where the book took place without having to search for it.
Another thing was the cast of characters. It's nice, but the explanations as to who they are aren't easily remembered. At least by me, I had some clue to the characters once they got mentioned but couldn't remember where they fit in.
At the end of the book we find out who is historically real in the book and who is a figment of Pepper Basham's imagination. The paragraph describing the characters that were made up I found to be kind of awkward. I found the descriptions of the real characters to be very interesting.
The other thing that really bugged me was the mention of Floyd and Claude Allen's final words, but the words are never told to us as readers, so why mention them if we don't get to set for ourselves what was said and see id we agree with Pepper Basham's assessment of those final words.
The pros definitely outweigh the cons in this book. It has very vivid descriptions of events that happened in real life, with fiction added in. I enjoyed this novel. I want to thank Netgalley.com and Barbour Books for the advanced copy. I was only asked to give my honest opinion in return and have no way been compensated for my opinion.
And for some hope for all of you in the words of Granny Burcham, always remember, "You’re missin’ sunshine? Well, it’s always close by. Never more than a smile and a hope away."

This book had a great blend of strong characters, vivid descriptions and a fascinating historical setting. I always enjoy reading about strong female characters in historical settings and this book offered that in spades, but in a way which was not at odds with the realities of life for women in that era. The mystery itself was good but I did feel there was a bit too much life guidance being offered when telling the story would have been enough to make the point.

I think most of the books in this true crime fiction series are good. This one was really good! I enjoyed this authors writing style and she was a brand new author for me! I loved the story of the main character and her best friend who she has always been in love with but comes to realize it through different crises that happen. I liked the action of the story and that it kept up the whole time and I really wasn’t sure what would happen till the very end. Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this advanced copy.