Synopsis:~

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.

Necee’s take:~

“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 Ava was sweet, protective, and inspiring. I loved seeing their transition from 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. Of course, Basham always knows how to make the romance noteworthy. Weaving Jeremiah and Ava’s love story 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. I am giving my honest review.

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. Most recently she’s introduced readers to Bath, UK through her novellas, Second Impressions and Jane by the Book, and taken readers into the exciting world of WW2 espionage in her novella, Façade. Her books are seasoned with her Appalachian heritage and love for family. 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.

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Buy at Amazon: The Red Ribbon or Koorong