First of all, what a gorgeous cover. I love the eye-catching red accentuating the title of this installment of True Colors. I've read most, if not all, of this series of historical American crimes and love how they're tied together by actual events and serve as a standalone.

Ava and Jeremiah are interesting characters that are easy to connect with. I love their chemistry and the growth they share. The sweet romance makes me swoon and learning aspects of history is icing on the cake.

I'm fairly certain this is the first story I've read containing feuds, which is partially why I was drawn to this book. The Appalachian Blue Ridge setting also created a pull within me since I've visited often and love stories that come from the unique area.

This is the first book I've read by Pepper Basham. She is a talented storyteller, creating strong visuals (without over-doing descriptions) and believable dialogue. Her writing style is smooth and effortless to read. I'm a big fan of the short chapters and find the quotes at the beginning of each chapter quite appealing.

With strong characters, plenty of action, heart-warming romance, and lovely spiritual elements, The Red Ribbon is sure to please even the most selective of readers.

#TheRedRibbon #Barbour #PepperBasham

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under not obligation to post a review.

4.5 stars- This is the latest book in the True Colors mystery series based on real life crimes that occurred in American history. It is also the first book I have read by Pepper Basham.
I was not familiar with the Hillsville Courthouse Massacre of 1912 but apparently it is a very well-known piece of history in rural Virginia. Most of the story does not revolve around the event itself but around the story of Ava Burcham and Jeremiah Sutphin, two residents of Hillsville. The various real life characters that played a part in the massacre, mainly the Allen family among others, are woven into Ava and Jeremiah’s story.
I really liked this story. I thought the relationship between Ava and Jeremiah was very touching and sweet. They both had a lot of baggage and issues to overcome and the author did a great job of portraying their relationship in a super sweet manner that pulls at your heartstrings. I found myself tearing up numerous times at the touching moments between Ava and Jeremiah. The latter quarter of the story is where most of the action takes place. It’s a race to the finish with a satisfying ending. I look forward to reading more of Pepper’s stories.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The red ribbon by Pepper Basham
The Red Ribbon is the 8th book in the True Colors series. This is the first book by Pepper Basham I've read and I'm looking forward to reading more of her creative written books.

Synopsis - I Carroll County, a corn shucking is a social event, until a mischievous kiss leads to one of the biggest tragedies in Virginia history. Ava was not a normal mountain in girl. Sh e was very bab habit of court in' trouble and her curiosity has opened a fight between local authorities and a Appalachian clan which lead to the Hicksville courthouse massacre of 1912.

My thoughts - The story is set in the Appalachian Mountain in 1912. This book is a page turn from the very beginning and such a page turner. The story has everything you would love in a book. It has fighting, adventure, romance and clan like the Hatfield and McCoy.

Recommend - I will give this a book a 5 out of 5. I will recommend this book to friends, family and social media.

I received this complimentary color this book from the publisher and Netgally for a honest review.

This was the first book that I had ever read by Pepper Basham and I really enjoyed reading The Red Ribbon. This book has everything you could want in a book including suspense and  romance. I love the characters especially Ava and her granny. I look forward to reading more from this author. I highly recommend this book.

I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a review.

‘Fear don’t speak truth, never has. You’d be wise not to heed it.’

This is the first story I’ve read from the True Crime series and I was completely blown away. This book was filled with all the things I love. The heroine, Ava, is feisty and driven but soft-hearted. That’s such a hard balance to accomplish, but this author made us hope for Ava’s dreams to come true and for her to see the love right before her. The hero, Jeremiah, is all the sighs. His protectiveness for Ava—while still giving her the space she needs—is so endearing. The crime itself was wonderfully portrayed. I was so fascinated by the real portions of the story I totally googled the Allen crew and read several accounts of what happened. What I loved so much about this story is all the meaningful truths tucked into the pages. This author is a genius at inserting these bits of wisdom. I seriously just pause and think on her words for a few minutes before continuing the story. Reading a Pepper Basham is a beautiful experience.

I received a copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Red Ribbon, by Pepper Basham, is volume eight in the True Color series by Barbour Publishing. Each of the stories are fiction based on true crime stories in history. This story is based in Virginia in 1912 and covers the Hillsville Courthouse Massacre.

Ava is a young lady who was orphaned at a young age. The area has been hit with many crimes and murders through out the years and her father’s and brother’s are just a couple of them. Ava was raised by a local family, had her grandmother close by and was really good friends with Jeremiah. As children and now adults, Jeremiah often rescues Ava in times of need.

This is a great story. It is well written with strong characters. The writing is clear and it is easy to envision what is happening and the surroundings. I enjoyed reading the wisdom of Ava and Jeremiah’s grandparents that started the chapters. I enjoyed the character of Ava’s grandmother, especially how she helped Ava to understand her mother’s health background. This story is filled with action, suspense, and mystery with strong friendship and growing romance. I especially like the additional information the author provides at the end of the story that focuses on the real crime.

I received an ebook copy of this story from t he publisher through NetGalley, this is my honest review.

It's the Hatfield and McCoys all over again only this time it is moonshiners: Allens and Daniels. Ava Burcham and Jeremiah Sutphin have both been effected by the moonshiners with loss of their parents. They were close friends during school and now Jeremiah is starting to court Ava, but trouble starts during a fall corn shucking that leads to all out feuding between the Allens and the Daniels with Ava and Jeremiah caught in the middle.

Having grown up in Carroll County Virginia where the Courthouse Massacre took place, Pepper Basham had heard all the stories true and embellished throughout her growing up years, but it is obvious that she did intensive research as well to try and accurately portray this true crime. She brought the life and times alive through her descriptions of the Appalachian mountain area as well as the speech and vocabulary of the hill country people. She threaded the story with wonderful spiritual content, and I loved watching Ava grow in her Christian walk.

One of my favorites of this true crime series.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

It took me a while to really get into the story. Part of it was the number of major players and trying to sort out who is who. But, overall I enjoyed this story, based on true events. There was plenty of moonshine and hidden stills, feuding mountain people, death, and danger that kept me engaged until the end. It is incredible how far gruesome human nature can erode. But, in these feuding situations, small children were taught to hate the feuding party enough to kill.
Like many parts of history, some details are lost in time.

This was my first Pepper Basham book, but it won’t be my last. I appreciated the mountain folk perspective and all the fun little phrases that were tossed around the pages of the book. It felt genuinely authentic. And having a family feud as the basis of the mystery was just perfect for both the True Colors series and Pepper’s brand.

I appreciated the way Pepper intertwined a fictional story with real characters and real events. It flowed smoothly. It also seemed to be a fairly even balance of mystery and romance.

The romance was a steady thread that wove throughout the entire book. There were a few intimate or suggestive comments made and I would personally not recommend it for teens, but if you’re someone who enjoys a clean romance, this one would be a good pick for you.

The Christian elements were continuous in this book. Scripture was quoted, they prayed to God, and overall seemed to have a solid faith. I loved the message about accepting who God made you to be—and not being bound by the mistakes and errors of your parents.

And the grandparents’ quotes at the beginning of each chapter! They were so perfect!

*I received this book from Celebrate Lit and happily provided my honest review*

Lovers of historical romance will devour this novel. Pepper Basham has a gift with transporting her readers to the past, and The Red Ribbon is another knock-out. The setting, characters, and faith elements were incredibly moving. Add in the fact that this was based on true crimes, and the intrigue level is undeniable. Jeremiah and Ava are characters you’ll be rooting for the entire time. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jeremiah and Ava have been friends all their lives, but now Jeremiah wants more - and a kiss at the corn-shucking makes Ava start to rethink their relationship too. But another kiss at that same corn-shucking starts a deadly feud between two powerful mountain families, and when a secret group with a desire for power use this feud to forward their own ends, things get deadly. Can they find out who is behind things in time to avoid more bloodshed? And can there be a happy ending in such troubled times?

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I enjoyed spending the time with Ava and Jeremiah and their friends, and the quotes at the start of each chapter were great. However, the parts that were actually based on fact, while handled tastefully without unnecessary or descriptive violence, I found somewhat depressing - the idea that people treat each other like that is not something that I can really wrap my head around (nor do I really want to!). All in all, the story is well written but I personally prefer the author's other books. However, it was interesting historically, and I mostly kept up with the characters, despite being initially rather daunted by the character list at the start. A good read, though not very light. I guess that's what you get if you read 'true crime'!

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

This is a unique story from Pepper Basham. Quite different from the other books I've read by her. But I liked it.
This is a story set in the olden days in Appalachia.
I liked meeting these hill people and learning more of their ways. I especially enjoyed getting to know Ava and Jeremiah.
Ava was a gal that was determined to be a writer. So she kept poking her nose in to places where she really had no business being. Jeremiah was bound and determined to keep her safe, so he had to do all he could just to keep up with her.
This is the story about a terrible event in history, a 'massacre' shooting in a courthouse.
Pepper Basham does a masterful job at tying this all together in one beautiful story.
Giving us the history around those parts, bringing the people to life for us to see, and just doing a fine job of showcasing the lovely hills of Appalachia in the earlier days of our country.
This book is a fine addition to the True Colors series.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

What a truly captivating story! Pepper weaves the real life facts of the Hillsville Courthouse Massacre of 1912 with the fictional story of Ava and Jeremiah wonderfully. I could not put this book down, it was so so good. Fantastic read!

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Another great book in the True Crime series and this one takes place in the Appalachian Mountains, a place I love reading about. In an era of time where there was a lot of moonshine/bootleggin going on, with all of the crimes that took place along with the operation. This book is based on the Courthouse Massacre that took place that has never been completely explained as to the who and why. A most interesting book where the heroine Ava saw her father killed over the doings from this illicit business. There is suspense and drama told by Basham that will keep you reading into the night.Also a beautiful love story. My thanks to Barbour Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion here is my own.

This was a very good story based on fact. The history of the Appalachian mountains is fascinating without lots of embellishments. This author recognizes that and tries to base her story on fiction as much as possible. This particular episode in history is steeped in cover-up, family honor etc. enough as it it. I enjoyed the romance aspect of this and how their faith brought them through a really dark time. The characters were wonderful and. I felt, true to form. I'm a native North Carolinian and have been around mountain people most of my life. Really good historical fiction based on real events. Another good addition to this series.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.

If you want to find some crime stories to read. This book can help with the craze. This series also will help with your craze for crime and historical events. This book is called The Red Ribbon. It deals with historical events evolved around clans and the courthouse tragedy in one county.

This story is slow when you begin. Though, it does get better as you read. The plot is more interesting once the action starts. The main characters are a bit interesting. The clans are more telling. Hearing about the story of a father's death and how it connected in the book. It brings out the more about the historical events of the true crimes and what happens at the courthouse that triggers it all.

If you are a historical fiction fan or crime fan this book, is for you. I hope you have the heart to take all the death and crime that takes place. Ava and Jeremiah seem to be pulled into trouble that may have all started with a kiss. But who kiss starts a feud between families and clans? Ava story reporting that starts it when there a rift. What may have brought on a courthouse massacre?

Wow, wow, WOW! What an amazing book! Pepper Basham is one of my all time favorite authors and The Red Ribbon is a storytelling masterpiece!
I loved learning about a true crime that I had never heard of before, and Pepper wrote this story in a beautiful way that honors the people on both sides of this tragedy, and fills the reader with empathy for all involved and their families.
Yes, this is a true crime story, but this book also contains a beautiful reminder that there is hope in this world all because of the One in whom our hope is found! I also loved the message regarding identity, and that who we truly are is all in Whose we are, I don't know about you but I personally need to be reminded often who I am in Christ! This book blessed my heart in so many ways and I know it will do the same for you!
And of course it wouldn't be a Pepper Basham book without a breathtaking romance (not to mention numerous toe-curling kisses!) and man is it a good one! I absolutely adored Ava and Jeremiah's romance, it gave me all the feels and had me swooning from beginning to end!
I also have to say that I love Granny Burcham so much, she's the absolute best and she made me smile every time she appeared on the page!
The suspense in this book is fantastic and so well written, it kept me on the edge of my seat and I hated to stop reading, and the fact that Pepper created a fictional mystery alongside the true crime was absolutely genius and so brilliantly done! If you are a fan of Roseanna M. White you'll love Pepper Basham's brand of suspense!
I absolutely and completely loved every single moment of The Red Ribbon, and it's one of my top ten favorite reads of 2020!
I most highly recommend The Red Ribbon! Trust me this is one book you don't want to miss!


I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own!

So many memorable quotes in this book. I am intrigued by this entire True Crime series. This one is set in Virginia, the mountains. Feuds between families and those caught in the crossfire. Ava and Ieremiah have had their share of being in the crossfire. Ava seems to find trouble everywhere she goes. This story was very well written. It was an awful event in history. The author handled a delicate matter with great care. And it’s a Peoper Basham Book, so there was a kiss or two! I especially liked the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Those are from Granny Burcham and Granddaddy Sutphin. Nuggets of wisdom! I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All views stated here are my own.

This book is going to be one of my favorites of this series! Pepper Basham can always be counted on to deliver romance in her novels, no matter the genre. I absolutely adored the friendship to romance angle of this story and felt like the author did a great job of weaving in the mystery and suspense threads without losing any of the romance that was blossoming between the characters. The reader can feel the tension building in this story as the feuding Appalachian families continued to grow ever closer to their boiling point. The author’s blending of fictional and real life events was seamless and made for an engrossing and page turning conclusion. I was so happy with how this story wrapped up! I am always a fan of Pepper Basham books and thought that The Red Ribbon was the perfect addition to this series!

I stayed up all night reading The Red Ribbon, and I couldn’t bring myself to regret it.
The romance alone made this book hard to put down.

I fell in love with Jeremiah Sutphin in one paragraph. He has become one of my favorite Basham heroes, second only to Henry Wright from When You Look at Me.

Not only is Jeremiah sweet and loyal, he’s also thoughtful and protective. His gentle pursuit of Ava made me sigh on more than one occasion.

Ava’s concerns about a relationship are understandable, unlike some heroines who leave me wanting to bash my head against the wall. When their romance took a turn for the better, I practically had to hold back a squeal. Pepper Basham knows how to write a romance, y’all.

But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the suspense. Basham does a great job showing real events through the eyes of her fictional characters. Her historical note at the end helps the reader come to their own conclusions about the actions of the Allen family as well as the result of the shooting.

I also loved the spiritual thread and Ava's lesson about who she is in God. It was well done and thought provoking, for new and old Christians alike.

Overall, The Red Ribbon is a great romance perfect for true crime and suspense lovers.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)