The Red Ribbon is SO good! So full of love, hate, murder, excitement, adventure, writing, romance, heritage and so much more from this page-turner book! A fiction story based on true history.
The end result? The Hillsville Courthouse Massacre of 1912. Wow!

Pepper Basham is an excellent writer which she has demonstrated over and over.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

I was so happy to see that the most recent addition to Barbour Publishing's True Colors series was written by Pepper Basham. This particular fictionalized version of the American true crime known as The Courthouse Massacre was a perfect fit for Basham as it took place in her hometown of Carroll County, Virginia. Her stories set in Appalachia are wonderful, including The Red Ribbon. Her characters in this book, especially Ava and Granny Burcham and the chivalrous Jeremiah Sutphin, are endearing. Readers will likely have mixed feelings about Sid Allen, who seems to be a caring citizen while having one foot outside of the law. Of course, given the genre, there are characters whose feet are firmly planted on the side of evil. I especially liked the quotes of homespun wisdom from Granny Berchan or Granddaddy Sutphin at the beginning of each chapter.

I am grateful to have received a copy of The Red Ribbon from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Red Ribbon combines Ms Basham's passion for history, her Appalachian past, and a sweet and sassy romance with a sad episode in Carroll County's past when bootlegging and family rivalries dominated the landscape.

Based upon the infamous courthouse shooting in 1912, Ms Basham weaves a story of suspense and romance around this fateful day in Carroll County's history. We meet a host of wonderful characters, none better than the two romantic leads: Ava Burcham and Jeremiah Sutphin. Two old school friends who have always stayed close, Jeremiah having a deep longing for Ava, which blossoms into a beautiful romance. However, a series of events conspires to keep these two lovebirds apart.

As another reviewer has mentioned, everyone needs a Granny Burcham, Ava's granny, who provides some wonderful soundbites of wisdom throughout the story. In addition, her villains are well drawn, none of whom I'll mention as that may spoil some of the suspense. Ms Basham is new to suspense and so this is a gentle entry into the genre. It's not edge of the seat stuff but it still kept me guessing and worrying about the well being of our two lovers.

Ms Basham excels in drawing the reader into her Appalachian culture and language. Even the various dialects spoken were well represented and gave the story so much vitality. And of course, no Ms Basham production would be complete without some wonderfully crafted kissing scenes, tender, sweet and innocent.

But it is Ava and Jeremiah who are the standouts. Ms Basham continues to raise the bar in crafting characters with depth and heart. Jeremiah, gallant and chivalrous; Ava, vibrant, passionate and independent.

I look forward to Ms Basham's next romantic adventure.

I received an early ebook version of this story from Bethany House via NetGalley with no expectations of a favourable review.

The next installment of the True Color series, The Red Ribbon, was written by one of my favorite authors, Pepper Basham. She grew up in the very area that this story came from. Many of the people mentioned in the story of 1911 and 1912 were real. Mountain folk where some bootlegged moonshine and others that were just plain evil. Most were just trying to keep food on the table and clothes on their backs. What happened later was national news from such a small community. True crime, real life and some fictional characters to lend a little excitement into the story. I was glued to the book right up to the end. Wow, a great way to pass a little bit of time amid this pandemic we are going through.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review.

The Red Ribbon is a historical romance with plenty of suspense set in early 1900s Appalachia. It centers around main character and seamstress Ava Burcham and her best friend (and possibly more) Jeremiah Sutphin. It did take a bit for the story to get rolling, but once it did, I became invested in seeing the feud with the Allens through to the finish.

This installment of the True Colors series is not as dark as some of the previous books have been, and it maintains the interesting uniqueness of the series theme as a whole.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This novel is one in the True Colors series, novels based on actual historical crimes. This one takes place in the Blue Ridge Mountains and centers on the Hillsville Courthouse Massacre of 1912.

Some of the other novels in the series have a number of events, such as murders or kidnappings. This one has just one event, the courthouse massacre, and it does not happen until late in the novel. Most of the novel is about Ava, her back story and her romance. This fictional character does have interactions with significant people involved in the massacre, however, that are somewhat minor and not very character revealing. I do wish more of the novel would have been about the actual people involved in the massacre. The massacre could have been more central in the novel with more about the culprits hiding out for days. Also, Basham brings in a whole other fictional group of nefarious men who are involved in the courthouse event. I felt that really muddied the waters, so to speak. I would have rather the novel been about the historical people with fictional ones supporting the plot but not being the central aspect of it.

All that being said, it was an interesting novel and I learned some things about an event the author, a native of the area, had heard about since childhood.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

***Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***

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4 – 4.5 stars

The Red Ribbon by Pepper Basham is the 8th installment in the “True Colors” series. This one is based on the Hillsville Courthouse Massacre of 1912. I loved the peek into Appalachian life (the good AND the bad), and would LOVE to have a Granny around like the one in the book. As always, looking forward to the next installment.

Another book in the True Colors series of Barbour Books is The Red Ribbon by Pepper Basham. This series hasn’t let me down yet!

A digital copy of The Red Ribbon was provided complimentary by NetGalley and Barbour Books. This book will release on October 1, 2020.

Like the beginning of any book, it starts off with basically sharing about the characters and the setting. This is my least favorite part of books! However, getting a better understanding of all these key players is helpful as you read through this story since there are so many characters to get to know! Having the character descriptions at the beginning is a big help to put the pieces together as the plot thickens!

The setting of this story almost reminds me of where my grandmother lived with it being pretty remote and it taking a while just to get into the town, especially if you’re on foot. Everyone knows everyone and everyone’s business as well. It’s a pretty tight knit community even with the controversy between families that follows generations.

When people are found murdered or left for dead, you know there’s something up. Small town folk don’t intentionally create havoc. Something bigger must be brewing and it was just a matter of time before it all revealed itself. The Red Ribbon has a few hidden secrets that are uncovered just in the nick of time!

As the story reached the climax, I was so hooked I couldn’t stop reading until reached the end! Lots of unexpected twists and turns that took me by surprise! Are main characters supposed to make it to the end of a book?

In my honest opinion, this book is a five out of five tiaras because it kept me guessing and my guesses were so wrong! Haha, I love it when I can guess what will happen and I’m totally wrong!

Another thrilling installment in the True Colors series. The Red Ribbon by Pepper Basham transports you to 1912 Appalachia. Ava and Jeremiah find themselves in the middle of a family feud, based on factual events, with a fictional, romantic and inspirational twist. The characters are engaging and captivated my attention from start to finish. I loved learning more about the Courthouse Massacre through this historical account. The details are vivid and so clearly capture the time period, setting and characters. The writing has easily bumped this one to one of my favorites in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own and freely given.

Wow!! Can I simply say that and leave the rest for you to discover? Okay. Probably not the best choice, so I'll attempt to do this amazing story justice.

It was so fun to learn about the corn shucking tradition related to the red ear of corn. Not only does this tradition act as a catalyst in the relationship between best friends Ava and Jeremiah, it also gave way to a stupid act that catapulted the community into a conflict that resulted in tragedy.

Ava and Jeremiah's relationship was sweet and oh so romantic! Jeremiah's love for her was shown in his patience and persistence and the way he encouraged her. And, the gifts! He was so thoughtful and kind. He rather made me think of my amazing husband.

Ava struggled with a fear that her mother's "bad blood" would reveal itself in her own life and would have her going mad. Though she had given her life to the Lord at an early age, the tragedies that had occurred since had caused her to take her eyes off Jesus and focus them on her fears. I loved the gentle ways He guided her back to trusting Him and helped her to see hope amid seemingly hopeless situations.

The Courthouse Massacre of 1913 is not fictional. And the cause is not the imagination of Pepper Basham, either. While it is unquestionably a tragedy and while the added fictional conflict with moonshiners, murderers, and mayhem that led to the massacre could easily become dark and frightening, light shone into the darkness and filled the story with an expectation of good triumphing.

I am so thankful I trusted my instincts (as well as the recommendations of others who have read this book!) and wasn't afraid to read The Red Ribbon. It is another amazing story by a favorite author of mine and I recommend it highly, even to readers who, like me, are not brave enough to read the others in the True Colors series!

I am thoroughly enjoying this true crime fiction series and now Pepper Basham’s superb contribution has only made the series better. The love and appreciation that Basham has for the people of the Blue Ridge Mountain area permeates the entire story, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much. The terrific characters drew me into this mountain area, while the drama and adventure added excitement. Top all that off with one fabulous romance and you’ve got The Red Ribbon. At the heart of the matter, were lessons of faith dealing with fear and letting go of the past to be able to live in the present and look toward the future. Without a doubt a true crime fictional story that will touch the heart of readers. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Ava Burcham wants to expose the people behind some moonshine runs, in part due to her past. Jeremiah Sutphin has been in love with her for a time, and most oftentimes winds up rescuing her from her own curiosity. We meet other people from the area, Sid and Floyd Allen along with their grown boys, Granny Burcham, Mr and Mrs Temple, Keen, Caspar, Ellis, Sheriff Webb, The Creed Family, and a few others. Ava and Jeremiah draw you right in to their story as we are introduced to other minor characters, some that have more of a role as the story builds. Set in Fancy Gap, Virginia mostly, we also venture into Hillsville for part of the story. Beautiful telling of this event In history, and be sure to read the author notes at the end too.
A complimentary copy was provided by Barbour Publishing via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This entire series has been fascinating and The Red Ribbon is no exception. The setting is the author's hometown of Carroll County, Virginia. That helps explain why she was able to so clearly bring the area to life. The novel is based upon "The Courthouse Massacre" of 1912.

Mountain venacular is part of what brings the setting to life with phrases such as "sparkin'" and "like a squirrel to tree hoppin'". The descriptions of meals, homes and occupations were equally well done to paint a clear picture of the time and area.

The slow building romance in the novel was sweet to be a part of. The disagreements between families was tangled in facts back in 1912 and that came through in the pages. The author's afterward was a wonderful complement to learn more about the events and citizens that were a part of this tragic event.

This was another good book in this series. It starts before what was known as the courthouse massacre. It started a bit slow for me but it finally took off. There’s quite a few characters and at times I had a hard keeping who was bad straight.
I really enjoyed the book and definitely recommend this book and the whole series.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Love, Suspense and Shoot-outs in the Mountains of Virginia

The Red Ribbon by Pepper Basham is a historical fiction based on the Courthouse Massacre of 1912 in Hillsville, Va. Ava Burcham is a spunky young lady who loves to write, but feels she will never be taken seriously since she is a woman. Her best friend is Jeremiah Sutphin, but he wants to be more than a friend. Both have lost family members to violence and find themselves in the middle of feuding clans although Jeremiah works for one of them. I loved the book and couldn’t put it down.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The crime in The Red Ribbon was, The Hillsville Courthouse Massacre, a local crime to a town in Virginia I hadn’t heard of before. And while I have enjoyed learning about these cases I haven’t heard of before, I found this one both interesting and frustrating, due to the complexity of the incident, with so many players involved. I understood the concept of the Allen family being antagonistic toward others in the town, but I did wish I had more prior knowledge to build on going in, and I wasn’t sure how much I should look up about it in order to keep an element of surprise.

There was a fairly good development of suspense and foreboding in the prose. While not scary, there’s a definite sense that something is not right, and the dark topic was handled with delicacy and sensitivity.

The lead characters, Ava and Jeremiah, were..okay, but as I found they really stuck out in the story, and I feel this is one of the continued side effects of it also being Christian Fiction, so there has to be an element of humanity and goodness, instead of fully centering the much more interesting direct players in the crime. They had a sweet romance, but it was pretty underwhelming, especially since I have heard from other disappointed readers that this does not compare to Basham’s other work.

This was not my favorite of the series I’ve read so far, but I expected that would be the case, with multiple authors contributing. I do feel that someone with greater familiarity with the crime might enjoy it more.

If you’re going to change the world around you, make sure you’re not the one changing to fit - Jeremiah

Don’t expect to put this one aside until you find out who or what is behind all the danger and killing that leads up to the Courthouse Massacre of 1912. The Appalachian hills hold a certain amount of mystery to all those who have not lived or visited there. It seems hard to believe that there would be such enmity between two families or clans that the feud would last for generations. Such was the situation in Caroll County, Virginia. The Thomas and Allen clans had been at odds for years and it finally came to a head in that courthouse. Could a simple kiss set the scene for murder??

Ava Burcham had seen her share of sorrow, losing her father and brother in violent deaths. Her job at the Temples Alteration Shop Allowed her to make a living with something she enjoyed - especially the beautiful ribbons. Never would she have guessed how important those red ribbons would become.

I thoroughly enjoyed the slow romance that the author entwined into this story of illegal stills, danger and death. It showed the resiliency of the human spirit, especially when one puts their trust in God, knowing He will be there all the time - regardless of what you are going through.

This ARC was received through Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. All comments and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

4.5 STARS!!!

Liquor soothed a lot of restless Appalachian men in winter. Some bore it better than others. Some loved their drink so much, they killed for it.

That’s a pretty chilling thought. Tensions run deep ‘in them thar hills’. Basham has written a compelling narrative based on a true story. The Red Ribbon is a mystery with a dash of suspense, making it a quick and intriguing read. The author captures a disturbing essence of Appalachia back in the bootlegging days with such reality that the reader can’t help but be drawn into the family feuds and rivalries. The old saying, “Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive” came to mind as I was immersed in the complexity of multiple murders, both past and present.

Ava is traditional in many ways and yet quite avant-garde in others. She has a tenacity about her that gets her in some troublesome spots but Jeremiah is often present to rescue her. Their relationship is one built on friendship that turned to love and it is a sweet thing to behold. While Basham is known for her kissing scenes, the beautiful thing about each one in this book is that you know right off Ava and Jeremiah have a deep history and it is going somewhere…marriage. Not once is there anything lustful or inappropriate described and I appreciated that.

One of my favorite characters is Granny Burcham. She reminds me of a woman I knew named Liza when I was growing up deep in Appalachia in my formative years. Wise words do not necessarily come from education but from experience and Granny has a lot of it.

I highly recommend The Red Ribbon to those who like to learn facts encased in great fiction. The author also includes fascinating notes in the back of the book about the real people involved in The Hillsville Courthouse Massacre of 1912.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher and author. My opinion is my own. No compensation received.

As I opened the book and saw the list of characters I thought I’d never keep everyone straight. However, as I started reading I found that the story kept you on top of what was happening. It is different than a lot of books that I read, but I found it fascinating. It was a vivid portrayal of life in the Appalachians of Virginia in the early 1900s. A whole different culture to me, and to today. The different family/clan disputes, etc. A young couple trying to figure out how to deal with their early losses and how to lead a Christian life. How to interact with people that didn’t see things in the same way. How to figure out what had been happening behind the scenes. This is based on a true story (which I didn’t learn until the explanation at the end – which also included a little follow up of some of the main characters). It was so realistic. Pepper Basham is a fairly new author, but feel she has a great talent in storytelling. I definitely recommend this book to reads of all ages.

This is a fascinating historical fiction story. It centers around the Carroll County (Va.) Courthouse Massacre of 1912, events which touched my youngest daughter's paternal ancestors in Virginia and North Carolina.
Along with the historical events, which are accurately represented, there is a fictional couple who are the main characters and who give us a realistic look into mountain culture in the area. I was drawn into their story quickly and soon became just as interested in it as with the historical portion.
At the beginning of each chapter, there is a quote of "mountain wisdom" which I also enjoyed reading. Some of them had me laughing out loud, but all of them offer food for thought.
Once the story ends, there is a short epilogue that tells how each of the real people in the book fared after the shoot out at the courthouse.
There is a slight Christian slant to the storytelling, but it is not overwhelming, and it fits with the culture of the characters.
I highly recommend this to all fans of history and/or historical fiction.