MY REVIEW:
“The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection” is a group of nine novellas by nine different authors with common historical settings of regional fairs. From the Chicago World’s Fair to small local county fairs, the stories revolve around young women who have strong motivation to win a blue ribbon on her entry. Each story is unique in setting and subject. Often the heroine is compelled to enter the competition in order to help her struggling family financially. Many of the novellas contain humor and some are more poignant than others but whether she seeks it or not, each heroine finds the love of her lifetime by story’s end.
This collection is perfect for long winter evenings. The reader can enjoy just one story at a time or may choose to sit and read all the way through the entire book. Whatever choice she makes, I know she will enjoy this faith-filled collection of stories that are packed with love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Be sure to pick up a copy today!
A free copy of this book was provided for review by Celebrate Lit Publicity Group. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Click to purchase
Meet nine men and women whose competitive goals take them to state and county fairs between 1889 and 1930. From baking pie to polishing pigs, from sculpting butter to stitching quilts, everyone has something to prove to themselves and their communities. But in going for the blue ribbon, will nine women miss the greatest prize of all—the devoted heart of a godly man?
To purchase your copy, click here.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Jennifer AlLee believes the most important thing a woman can do is discover her identity in God—a theme that carries throughout her stories. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and RWA’s Faith, Hope and Love Chapter. When she’s not spinning tales, she enjoys board games with friends, movies, and breaking into song for no particular reason. Jennifer lives with her family in the grace-filled city of Las Vegas, Nevada. Please visit her at www.jenniferallee.com.
Angela Breidenbach is a bestselling author, host of Grace Under Pressure Radio, and the Christian Author Network’s president. And yes, she’s half of the fun fe-lion comedy duo, Muse and Writer, on social media.
Note from Angela: “I love hearing from readers and enjoy book club chats. To drop me a note or set up a book club chat, contact me at angie.breidenbach@gmail.com. Let me know if you’d like me to post a quote from your review of this story. If you send me the link and your social media handle, I’ll post it to my social media with a word of gratitude including your name and/or social media handle, too!”
For more about Angela’s books (especially more Montana-inspired romances) and podcast, or to set up a book club chat, please visit her website: http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com
Twitter/Pinterest/Instagram: @AngBreidenbach
Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/AngelaBreidenbachInspirationalSpeakerAuthor
Bestselling author Darlene Franklin’s greatest claim to fame is that she writes full-time from a nursing home. She lives in Oklahoma, near her son and his family, and continues her interests in playing the piano and singing, books, good fellowship, and reality TV in addition to writing. She is an active member of Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Christian Authors Network. She has written over fifty books and more than 250 devotionals. Her historical fiction ranges from the Revolutionary War to World War II, from Texas to Vermont. You can find Darlene online at www.darlenefranklinwrites.com
Cynthia Hickey grew up in a family of storytellers and moved around the country a lot as an army brat. Her desire is to write about real, but flawed characters in a wholesome way that her seven children and five grandchildren can all be proud of. She and her husband live in Arizona where Cynthia is a full-time writer.
Carrie Fancett Pagels is a multi-published award-winning author of Christian historical romance. Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn’t “cure” her overactive imagination! She resides with her family in the Historic Triangle of Virginia, which is perfect for her love of history. Carrie loves to read, bake, bead, and travel – but not all at the same time!
TIFFANY AMBER STOCKTON has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood. Today she is an award-winning author, speaker, social media consultant, and a freelance website designer who lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have a daughter and a son and a vivacious Flat-coated retriever named Roxie. Her writing career began as a columnist for her high school and college newspapers. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Historical Romance Writers. Three of her novels have won annual reader’s choice awards, and in 2009, she was voted #1 favorite new author for the Heartsong Presents book club. You can read more about her at her website.
Niki Turner is a novelist, journalist, and blogger. Her first completed manuscript earned second place in the Touched By Love 2009 contemporary category romance contest. She writes for local newspapers and won second place for best agriculture story at the 2013 Colorado Press Association annual convention. She is a coblogger at www.inkwellinspirations.com. Niki is the president of the Western Slope chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers. Connect with Niki on Facebook or Twitter, and visit her website for information on her other books: www.nikiturner.net.
ECPA- bestselling author Gina Welborn worked for a news radio station until she fell in love with writing romances. She serves on the American Christian Fiction Writers Foundation Board. Sharing her husband’s love for the premier American sportscar, she is a founding member of the Southwest Oklahoma Corvette Club and a lifetime member of the National Corvette Museum. Gina lives with her husband, three of their five Okie-Hokie children, two rabbits, two guinea pigs, and a dog that doesn’t realize rabbits and pigs are edible. Find her online at www.ginawelborn.com!
Becca Whitham (WIT-um) is a multi-published author who has always loved reading and writing stories. After raising two children, she and her husband faced the empty nest years by following their dreams: he joined the army as a chaplain, and she began her journey toward publication. Becca loves to tell stories marrying real historical events with modern-day applications to inspire readers to live Christ-reflecting lives. She’s traveled to almost every state in the U.S. for speaking and singing engagements and has lived in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Alaska. She can be reached through her website at www.beccawhitham.com
GUEST POST:
MAX, ELLA, AND THE STATE FAIR
By Jennifer AlLee
Have you ever done something for a really good reason, but when you looked back, you realized that may have been when your problems began? That’s pretty much what happens to Max and Ella, the main characters of “Better with Butter!” Ella dreamed of creating images in clay, stone, marble. Instead, she’s making butter sculptures all because of one crazy, well-intentioned idea to garner publicity for the family dairy. Max grew up on a farm, and after years of working at the dairy, he wanted out. So he left to work for the Joy Margarine Company. Trouble is, he didn’t just leave the dairy, he left Ella, a move he’s regretted ever since. When Max and Ella find themselves both pushing their products at the Nevada State Fair, sparks fly, in more ways than one. The attraction between them is definitely still there, but it’s buried under layers of hurt and mistrust. The decisions they make at the State Fair will be a lot bigger than winning a blue 4ibbon. They’ll change Max and Ella’s lives.
BLOG STOPS:
November 1: Simple Harvest Reads
November 2: History, Mystery & Faith
November 2: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS
November 3: Bibliophile Reviews
November 3: Smiling Book Reviews
November 4: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
November 5: A Greater Yes
November 5: Blossoms and Blessings
November 6: Artistic nobody
November 7: cherylbbookblog
November 8: Reviewing Novels Online
November 8: Jeanette’s Thoughts
November 9: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner (Spotlight)
November 9: inklings and notions
November 10: Lighthouse Academy
November 11: The Scribbler
November 12: Karen’s Krayons
November 13: Daysong Reflections
November 14: Splashes of Joy
November 14: Blogging With Carol
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate their tour, The Blue Ribbon Brides authors are giving away an award winning themed basket that includes a quilt and an Amazon Kindle Fire!
Be sure to comment on this blog post below. If we have ten commenters (not including the authors), I will be picking one person to win a book!
Link to giveaway: https://promosimple.com/ps/a7ea
A great review! These nine novellas were great!! Written by nine talented and amazing authors!!
By the way, I love the lay out of your blog. It is easy on the eyes!! And easy to follow!! Thank you!
I thought I had commented already here! Anyway, Max and Ella’s story sounds good (the whole book really!), I have to laugh at the butter sculptures :-) One year for Thanksgiving, my sis-in-law bought butter shaped like a turkey, it added a bit fun & festive to the table. I think that’s one of my favorite memories!
Thanks for participating in the blog hop and your review! I’d really like to add this set to my book collection!
teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com
Thank you for participating in the blog hop. I a having fun visiting all the blogs and commenting. I love these collection and can’t wait to read this one.
This is a great giveaway! I love the cover of the book. All of these stories sound like they would be wonderful to read. I am looking forward to reading this collection! Thanks for these reviews and giveaways.
Great review! The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection is a great book by gifted authors.
Blessings,Tina
I enjoyed this review and I lo9k forward to reading this collection!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
What a fantastic lineup of authors! Each author is just fantastic, and I have been waiting to read this one since I heard of its release months ago! Thanks for the great review.
Excellent review! So many exceptional authors with their incredible stories! I can’t wait to read this one!
Thank you for participating in the tour.