Pepper Basham's readers will enjoy this trip back in time. I thoroughly enjoyed the period language (sparking!) and plot, as well as the characters. Readers will appreciate the suspense, attention to detail, and the sweet love story. And the kisses? Fantastic kisses that honor both the propriety and the passion.

This is another installment of Barbour's True Crime series. The series is interesting, as it brings light to cases many readers may not be familiar with.

Basham's characters are well-developed, and the pace is appropriate to keep the reader engaged. Ava and Jeremiah are enjoyable characters and easy to root for. You can feel their pain as the story unfolds. Basham keeps the reader guessing as the clues play out.

One of my favorite quotes: “The Lord your God is in your midst. Here. And Greater than your fear”

The Red Ribbon by Pepper Basham is a Christian historical murder suspense with its roots in reality. It is part of the True Colors series but can be read as a stand-alone.
Pepper Basham has created a marvellous tale with a strong, feisty heroine at the core – very much a modern woman for 1912. She is encouraged and championed by her childhood friend. She writes under a nom de plume for the local paper as female writers were not seen to be able to write seriously.
There is the fear of bad blood tainting the generations but as Christians we are all cleansed by the blood of Christ. Fear immobilises us. “Fear don’t speak truth.” Fear keeps us captive with lies. “You can’t keep livin’ in fear… She only has the hold you give her.” We all have the choice as to what we let take root in our mind and in our heart. We can choose to “hold on to truth or ride the wind of fear.” Let us look to God and live in truth.
Sometimes it feels like we journey through life alone. Even, or especially, in the darkest of times, God is with us. “God hadn’t left her alone.” We were never promised a trouble free life. We were promised that God would never leave us nor forsake us.
No matter how dark the night, we can hang on to God and choose to trust Him in the dark. “His light will change the view in the darkness.” When we see life from God’s point of view, our perspective changes.
Each chapter started with a wonderful gem of wisdom that we would be wise to follow.
I loved The Red Ribbon. It was exciting, thrilling and engaging with God at its heart.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

What an amazing historical fiction read this was!
I enjoyed this book so much I couldn't stop reading.
The first couple characters in it felt kind of slow for me to get started!
Once I made it over my slump I devoured it.

anything with true crime I lobee.
This book will.sick you in.

Thank you NetGalley, Publisher and Author for this gifted e-book.

“Bitterness is a wicked poison. Fogs up the head and sickens the heart till folks call wrong right and right wrong.”

I really love it when authors can bring history to life. “The Red Ribbon” did just that with family feuds and a heartwarming romance, too. Basham wrote the story based in Carroll County, Virginia and inspired by the real historical event, the Hillsville Courthouse Massacre of 1912. She wrapped the story around the two main characters, Jeremiah and Ava, finding romance out of a long lasting friendship. Jeremiah’s heart for her was sweet, protective, and inspiring. I loved seeing there transition of friendship to love come together. I really enjoyed the moxie of Ava with her drive for truth, justice, and journalism in a time women were not accepted in that field.

“Jeremiah’s voice remained calm, smooth, pouring over her agitation like warm honey on a biscuit.”

The love story is sweet and heartwarming. The mystery and danger kept me intrigued. The rivalry between families brings to mind what it would’ve been like during that time period. I thought it was interesting seeing the possible story behind the real life event. Another interesting aspect is that the story is from the author’s hometown, which made the story come to life. You could see the passion for her hometown and the mystery surrounding the Hillsville Massacre. Initially the dialect may be distracting for some, but I really enjoyed it and found it true to the storyline.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves books based on history, true crime, heartwarming romance, and characters I think you would love. Of course, Basham always knows how to make the romance noteworthy. Weaving Jeremiah and Ava’s into the fictional, but seemingly realistic backstory added to the chemistry of the novel. Her focus on God in the midst of the turmoil, forgiveness and love vs. hate in relationships made for an inspirational storyline. It was beautifully written in light of a true crime event.

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

I was given a copy of this book by the author through NetGalley. I am giving my honest review.


Fabulous characters that inspire! This story holds your interest and pulls you in from the very beginning. So much sorrow for Ava brings about healing and love that pulls the readers emotions into this story. The journey that the author takes the reader on is full of twist and turns with danger and mystery. There were times I was on the edge of my seat to be brought full force into a tender scene or one full of revenge and anger. A story that will keep you guessing and hoping for God to show Ava her purpose for life. A sweet clean romance that is tender, uplifting and promising. Such a fabulous read that will have you glued to every page!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I have enjoyed several other books from this series as well. I have read some of this author's books and this was quite a bit different but just as good. I definitely recommend this book and author. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I look forward to reading more books in this series!

'I've outrun a lot of things in my time, but I've never been able to outrun a guilty conscience, an achin' heart and the judgment of God.' (Grandaddy Sutphin)

I am totally enjoying this series of books by Barbour Publishing, True Colors. All feature actual crimes but fictionalize them in some way. I look forward to each one. Pepper Basham does this one proud. I was so captivated, I did my own research into the Courthouse Massacre. And her addition to the story is so wonderful! I loved Jeremiah and Ava's story. I recommend not only this author, but this series.

*My thanks to Barbour Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion here is my own.

This was an engaging historical fiction story set in the early 1900s in Virginia. It started a bit slow for me to get involved in, then once I did, I didn’t want to stop until I got to the end. It has a bit of a Christian slant to it, as others in this series do, but not really that overwhelming. The writing was good enough in the handful of books in this series I read, that I didn’t mind it.  The Red Ribbon centers on a fictional couple who are sparking, or courting, and some things that befall them. Some of the story is based on actual events from that area. I found the writing good and enjoyed the story. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Pepper Basham, and the publisher.

If you like historical fiction that’s based on real events, you will find this book intriguing 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.

This Mystery based on true stories was fabulous. The idea of clans fighting over moonshine routes and other intrigues was something that I could really get into. The mystery and romance were balanced well and there was character growth in the fictional characters that made them almost real. I loved the attention to this historical details though I did struggle to keep track of all the characters, but as many of them were real, I can't see them being left out. I loved the glimpse of history and the world in which these people lived. Real mysteries are almost more unbelievable than those that are fictional.

I received an eARC of this book and this is my review.

With Red Ribbons, Pepper Basham offers readers a gift of strong characters, vivid setting, and a plot that will engage. Step back to the turn of the century in Appalachia, when feuds were real and long-standing. Work with the heroine to breach the divide between the factions while trying to stay alive and wrestle with her past. Reach for the future with her…and learn with her that kissing can be might fun. This book is filled with heart, hope, and history. Highly recommended to readers who love their historical romance with a layer of suspense.

The Red Ribbon is part of a series of books dealing with crime. Each book is written by a different author and is entirely standalone.

I don’t usually pick up books like this. I am not a fan of true crime stories. But the author Pepper Basham is one of my favorites for contemporary romance, so I had to read it.

I figured out that I need to know about the true crime part before I can really get into the book. I was really ambivalent towards the book to start, but once I looked up the history of the event, I got into it. The chart were great. Ava was a bit annoying to start. But she redeemed herself. And Jeremiah is a great hero!

Loved it. It was so good!
I received a copy of this book to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise.

The Red Ribbon was very enjoyable. Ava and Jeremiah are characters you can't help but cheer for and want the best for. While this book did focus on a true event, it had a different vibe to it than the other True Colors. Not bad, just different. I would say this was more of a romantic story center around a true event. Where the others to me felt like more of a suspense story with a romantic side storyline. That being said the writing was wonderful! I highly recommend The Red Ribbon, as well as all the other True Colors books.

The Red Ribbon by Pepper Basham is a delightful story. I loved the twists and turns. The main part I enjoyed was the slow burning romance between Jeremiah and Daffiodil. I'm not a huge fan of romance. Usually I shy away from the romance and head straight to the mystery. But I enjoyed all the ways Jeremiah would work hard to protect her and build her a future home. He even created a room for her in their new home. He showed he loved her more than just staying it and allowing his emotions to run across the page of the story, driving the plot. The mystery was a nice treat too. It captured my attention. The only issue I had with the story is I wish the story was longer, so I could see more of the background of the feud. It didn't feel explained enough. As a reader, we were lead to the background of the feud, but never shown what the feud actually was. Overall, I enjoyed The Red Ribbon and can't wait to see what the next story is about. Some of these stories are a hit out of the park for me while others don't fit with what I accept, but Basham's is definitely a good one.

I received a complimentary copy of The Red Ribbon by Pepper Basham from Barbour Books through Celebrate Lit, but the opinions stated are all my own.

A mesmerizing story based on a real event in Appalachian history: The Courthouse Tragedy of 1912, Hillsville, Virginia. This well written tale flowed with mountain charm, with bits of faith and wisdom added to bring hope amidst the tragic events. The characters felt so real I felt like praying for them at times! I loved Ava and Jeremiah's story. They had both dealt with great loss at young ages, yet overcame it with faith and the help of others. I loved Granny Burcham's bits of wisdom, and the tender memories of Ava's father reminding her that God was with her, singing over her. What a lovely reminder that is for all of us, that God does not abandon his own.
The ending was a perfect wrap up, worth all of the angst. The historical notes at the end were interesting too, especially given the author's personal connections to the area.
This should appeal to historical fiction fans who like stories based on real events with a bit of grit, faith and tender romance. Highly recommend! 5 stars

The Red Ribbon set in Carroll County, Virginia, is a well-written, noteworthy book inspired by a true event, the Hillsville Courthouse Massacre of 1912. The plot flows at a steady pace, and the historical characters are seamlessly meshed with the fictional ones. The story revolves around a young couple, Ava and Jeremiah. I loved these two characters for their strength and resilience in spite of all the “bad stuff” affecting their lives. For me, their sweet romance overshadowed the crime element in the story. Ms. Basham with her flowing, expressive style and expert storytelling skills, makes all the characters come to life; and you can feel their emotions. Her use of the Appalachian dialect enhances the story and adds credibility to the characters. I also love the strong faith element woven throughout the story. The pervasive theme of hope lightens the load of the hate and greed that precipitated the murder and mayhem in Hillsville. A favorite quote: “She could focus on the losses and pain, allowing those dark thoughts to color the filter of every other scene in her life, or she could choose thankfulness, gratitude, and the belief that God touched it all with hope—held it all—and never took His attention away from her. She chose hope.” A good lesson for all of us!
I appreciated the cast of characters information at the beginning of the book and the author’s historical notes about the massacre and the fates of the real-life characters after the Courthouse Tragedy. The Red Ribbon is part of the True Colors Historical Stories of American Crime series. I highly recommend this book and the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This book started a little slow but quickly gained momentum, with several twists on the way to the end. An aspiring
writer/seamstress sets out to investigate a series of goings on in the small community while her beau tries to keep her safe from the doers. Like each volume in the True Colors series, this book fictionalizes an actual crime event. This series piqued my interest in historical fiction, in which I initially had no interest.

The Red Ribbon on one of those stories that suck the reader into the world and lets them experience the everything for themselves. I loved this read because it introduced me to a new world, a small town and interesting characters that I might never have experienced otherwise.

This book is part true crime, part fictionalized story and fully addicting. The way the author wove her tale really challenged me to the rules and laws of a different culture. The feuds between families and clans, the love between two friends, the heart and tragedy all wrapped up in this elegant story.

I highly recommend this story and this series to all true crime readers, mystery lovers, clean romance readers, and all those looking for an amazing escape into a new world. I received an ARC via NetGalley, Barbour Publishing, Inc, and the author and I am leaving an honest review. I will be buying this in paperback to add to my amazing collection of this amazing series.

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I will be posting my review on all available sites on release day, October 1st, 2020 (as per the publishers request not to post before 30 days before release): Amazon, Bookbub, Goodreads, Google, BN, and Kobo.

I will also be sharing my enjoyment of this story (and my review) on the following social media sites as well as recommending this book (and series) in any groups that might enjoy this content.:

https://m.facebook.com/elysian.fields.520
https://www.instagram.com/elysian_fields_reader/
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This was an interesting story made even more intriguing since it is based off of real events! Ava Burcham experiences many tragedies in her life, yet undergoes great spiritual and emotional growth throughout the narrative. There is plenty of action that made me want to keep reading. There is a list of the characters at the beginning of the book and I recommend reading that over a couple of times. I read this on a kindle, so I couldn't just flip back and forth to keep track of everyone, but I think that would have been helpful. Overall, I enjoyed it and it was another great Pepper Basham book!