The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection |
THE BLUE RIBBON BRIDES COLLECTION: 9 Historical Women Win
More than a Blue Ribbon at the Fair
Authors: Carrie Fancett Pagels; Angela Breidenbach;
Darlene Franklin; Gina Welborn; Jennifer AlLee; Becca Whitham; Niki Turner;
Tiffany Amber Stockton; Cynthia Hickey
Publisher: Barbour Books (November 1, 2016)
Reviewed by Noela Nancarrow
5 Stars *****
Nine historical romances give a fun and informative
insight into early fairs and their competitions as women vie for blue ribbons
and end up winning in love!
In Requilted with Love by Carrie Fancett Pagels, Carrie weaves a delightfully captivating tale of a young
woman’s hope in winning the coveted Blue Ribbon for her quilt at the Michigan
State Fair. While at the fair, Sarah Richmond learns she has much more than
just a fierce competitor to contend with. Sarah has no intentions of falling in
love ever again after losing two fiancĂ©’s. So will the handsome balloonist be
able to tether her heart along with his balloon?
Seven Medals and a Bride by Angela Breidenbach, tells of a group of women from Montana with two goals— to win
medals for their botanical displays and to find their favorite miner Luke
Edwards, a wife. Luke first meets the lovely botanist Bettina Gilbert on the
ship as they arrive at the World Fair in Chicago and an immediate connection is
sown. Could this be the woman he might marry? It doesn’t seem likely when he
discovers she despises the effects of mining. How will they get past this
obstacle?
A Taste of Honey by Darlene Franklin, sees Grant Oscar return home from the Navy to discover his father’s
allowed their farm to come close to financial ruin. He needs to make money from
the meadow adjoining his neighbor’s
property by ploughing the land. But it was this beautiful field that contained
the log gums where bees produced honey. And his neighbour Edie Grace needed
that honey to help her to win at the Rutland State Fair with her baking. This
spunky gal had her own big dreams and Grant was going to plough right over
them. Can they both come out winners? A sweet and alluring tale!
In Altered Hearts by Gina Welborn,
country girl Reba Diehl wins big at the county fair with her millinery
masterpieces, convincing her to follow her heart in leaving behind the country
behind and moving to the city. Will Reba have what it takes in successfully
running a millinery store in Sioux Falls? Levi Webber imagines a perfect life
with his closest friend Reba, the girl who’s stolen his heart and can’t believe
she’s moving away. Except Reba knows nothing about it as Levi forgot to tell
her! Levi represents everything Reba is escaping from. Whose heart and life
will be altered in this charming and enjoyable story?
In Better with Butter by Jennifer AlLee, the age-old hot debate between butter and margarine is only just spreading.
Ella, who sculpts butter models of her cow every year for the fair, is
desperate to win this year to promote interest in the struggling Daniel’s Dairy
Farm. She didn’t count on Maxwell Sinclair, the handsome former employee of her
father’s, to be at the fair endorsing the new spread, margarine. All is
threatened when some unscrupulous acts unfold, and both begin to doubt each
other. What happens when they’re locked in the icehouse together, and is it
possible to find compromises and new direction? A delicious story, no matter
your preferred flavour!
In Driven to Distraction by Becca Whitham, we travel to the Western Washington Fair where old Auto Polo rivals,
the Montgomery Marauders and the Caplan Crusaders are set to battle again.
After a terrible tragedy 17 months ago, Robert Montgomery fled to join the war.
He’s returned and is determined to marry Jolene Caplan. She won’t agree to wed
however, until there is peace between the families. Torn between them all, will
she escape the heartache and take up another tempting offer? I loved the
passion of Robert’s love for Jolene and the message of forgiveness and growth.
Engaging!
First Comes Pie by Niki Turner has
Emmet Dewey, an opportunist who buys and sells property, catching Lorelei Boyd
after she falls out of an apple tree. Not realizing Emmet has bought the
deceased Otto’s place at auction, she strikes a deal with him that she may
continue to pick apples from the orchard. Lorelei hopes to create a contest
winning pie in order to sell the recipe and save her parent’s farm. With spicy
elements of danger and romance, Niki Turner has all the right ingredients for a
scrumptious novella!
Front Page Love by Amber Stockton tells the tale of Paige Callahan, a supervisor for the Agricultural
Hall at the Wyoming State Fair, and her discontent with the man who wants to
marry her. ‘Conventional Charlie’ they call him. He’s trustworthy and
hardworking but also terribly predictable, boring, and without passion. While
Paige is bemoaning the lack of love in her life to best friend Millie, she soon
discovers a handsome reporter standing nearby. Before long, her mundane life
gets quite interesting. Will her heart follow along this exciting path or will
she choose the safe route with Charlie? An intriguing and charming story!
In Competing Hearts by Cynthia Hickey,
Annie Mae Thompkins enters her vibrant quilt in the Arkansas State Fair with
high hopes in winning first place. Receiving the money prize could help her
family during these tough times of the Great Depression. But when her childhood
friend
Jonathan Mercer’s pig entry escapes its pen and destroys her quilt, she
is furious with him. Must he always cause her grief? Jonathan wonders how he
can ever hope for a relationship with Annie Mae when he keeps ruining things.
What will change Annie Mae’s mind about Jonathan? And how can she now help her
parents? This is a heart-warming story of love, forgiveness, and learning to trust
God rather than worry.
This book may be purchased from AMAZON; CBD; B&N; BAM. You may also find it at your local Christian bookstore and Walmart stores!
GIVEAWAY: Carrie Fancett Pagels is generously giving away a copy of 'The Blue Ribbon Brides' to one commenter! Please be sure to leave your email address written (at) and (dot) to protect yourself from spammers.