Review of “The Red Ribbon” by Pepper Basham

Publisher Description

An Appalachian Feud Blows Up in 1912

Step into True Colors — a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

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. The end result? The Hillsville Courthouse Massacre of 1912.

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My Review:

“God ain’t sitting’ up in heaven watching’ a show down here on earth.  He don’t mind getting’ His hands dirty.  Else, He’d never sent the Savior.”

Wisdom from Granny Burcham

This book is part of the “True Crime” series from Barbour Books, and it’s my favorite one in this series.  I’d never heard of “The Hillsdale Courthouse Massacre of 1912” until I read this book.  This author brought that sad sequence of events to life for me, and I felt at times as if I actually knew these characters and this community.  When I reached the point in the book that the massacre occurs, I was reading rapidly to see if characters I had come to care about were injured at the courthouse.  The author does a wonderful job of showing us what life was like for the Appalachian people during those years, and she does this with great respect for their culture and beliefs.

Ava Burcham is a fabulous character.  Her courage, curiosity, compassion, and spunk lights up the pages of this book.  I love it when the hero is a worthy character, and Jeremiah Sutphin is all of that and more. And of course, since this is a Pepper Basham book, there’s a sweet romance.  As Granny Burcham would said it, there’s some courting’, sparking, and kissing going on.  But it’s all appropriate and it was fun watching Jeremiah court Ava.  I was cheering them on to find their happily-ever-after.

There’s a strong theme of faith in this book that addresses our worth in Christ, rather than what man may think of us.  Ava’s spiritual journey in this book touched my heart. I’ll be remembering all the characters in this story. (And I’m hoping the book is nominated for an award.). It’s the perfect blend of mystery, suspense, romance, and faith,

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

Blue Ridge Romance peppered with grace and humor

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with a southern Appalachian flair. Her books have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inpsys, and the ACFW Carol Awards, with The Thorn Healer selected as a 2018 finalist in the RT awards. Both her contemporary and historical romance novels consistently receive high ratings from Romantic Times, with Just the Way You Are as a Top Pick. Her books are seasoned with her Appalachian heritage and love for family, whether they take place in the early 1900s or present day. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

You can get to know Pepper on her website, www.pepperdbasham.com, on Facebook, Instagram, or over at her group blog, The Writer’s Alley.