Smiling Book Reviews: Blog Tour Review: The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection

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The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection: 9 Historical Women Win
More than a Blue Ribbon at the Fair by Multiple Authors

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To purchase your copy, click here.

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?

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!

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

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!

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.

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

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 co-blogger 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.

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.

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.

First Comes Pie – History of Apple Pie Days

Niki Turner

In First Comes Pie, Lorelei Boyd is preparing to enter the Apple Pie Days Contest in Rifle, Colorado. Apple Pie Days began in 1908 in Rifle, predating the Garfield County Fair, which is still held in Rifle, even though it’s not the county seat. The first Apple Pie Days was a celebration of the construction of a bridge across the Colorado River in conjunction with the apple harvest. Someday I’ll find time to write about the woman who operated the ferry that hauled people back and forth across the Colorado River before that bridge was built! That’s the problem with historical research… the more research you do, the more story ideas you find!

The idea for First Comes Pie came from an interview I conducted with an elderly couple for a newspaper column. The couple shared their memories of the Colorado River valley being home to thousands of acres of orchards, farms, and agricultural production. Today most of those orchards are gone, and the sugar beet farms have been replaced with hay fields. Then I learned about Apple Pie Days, and the germ of an idea blossomed into a story.

Every year, each woman in the Rifle area was asked to bring six home-baked apple pies to town in September. Free coffee and pie were served to all in attendance. Thousands of pies and thousands of gallons of coffee were consumed, and as with most community events, activities began to be added. Eventually there was a parade, rodeo, dance, and plenty of excitement downtown.

Although I couldn’t find evidence that there was ever a contest for the best pie, the local museum has a framed picture of the first Apple Pie Queen on display. Miss Blanche Grace Goodrich was chosen as the first Apple Pie Queen in 1909. In 1910 she married the Texaco Oil Consignee in Rifle and, after his death, operated the oil company with her son Jack. She passed away at the age of 98. Her photo in the museum speaks a thousand words, in my opinion. I like to think Lorelei “inherited” a little bit of that attitude!

This is a wonderful collection of stories about strong men and women who are determined to make a difference either in their communities or even to change the world with their ideas. You get to visit small town competitions, state competitions and all the way up to the Chicago World Fair. You get projects that range from quilts to baking to auto polo to butter sculpting and the invention of margarine. It was quite fascinating!

I really enjoyed the determination of each of these women to be her own person and stretch her wings. The men were great hero's who sometimes had to learn to give in a little to these feisty women if they wanted a lifetime to love them. :)

There's real life in these stories - you'll read about families that have lost a loved one, men that have come back from war, friends that have become enemies, businesses that fail, etc. But then you also have plenty of hope, forgiveness, reconciliation, second chances, and sweet romances that will keep you turning pages. And of course, the blue ribbon wins! :) Don't miss out on this wonderful book!

*Thanks to Celebrate Lit for a complimentary copy of this book. I was not paid or required to post a positive review and all opinions stated are my own.*

View all my reviews on Goodreads

To celebrate their tour, The Blue Ribbon Brides authors are giving away an award winning themed basket that included a quilt and an Amazon Kindle Fire!

Link to giveaway: https://promosimple.com/ps/a7ea

Be sure to comment on this blog post below. If we have ten commentors (not including the authors), I will be picking one person to win a book!