Monday, November 14, 2016

The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection by Cynthia Hickey, Gina Wellborn, Jennifer AlLee, Angela Breidenbach, Darlene Franklin, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Amber Stockton, Niki Turner, and Becca Whitham



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To purchase your copy, click here.

Blog Stops

November 1: Simple Harvest Reads
November 2: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS
November 3: Bibliophile Reviews
November 3: Smiling Book Reviews
November 5: A Greater Yes
November 6: Artistic nobody
November 7: cherylbbookblog
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

About the Book



Blue Ribbon Brides
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? 
My Review:
This book is a collection of stories from multiple authors, and I'm sure you figured that out already. Each story full sized, my reading device said 8 hours of reading. Yeah! Each story is good, but certain ones tugged at my heart more than others. Darlene Franklin's story was magnificent. I really related to this story and felt like I was in it, or there with Grant and Edie. I throughly enjoyed Carrie F. Pagels's romantic quilt and aeronautics story. The others were just as good. This collection didn't disappoint me or make me sad in anyway. It's well put together, with strong and sweet messages, and plenty of romance. 
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
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!
 Giveaway
blue-ribbon-brides-grand-prize
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!
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!

12 comments:

Carrie Fancett Pagels said...

Thanks so much for hosting us on this last stop of the Celebrate Lit Blog Hop for The Blue Ribbon Brides collection, Carol! And thanks for the lovely review! Blessings!

Unknown said...

Thank you for participating in the blog hop. I had fun going to all the blogs visiting them and commenting on the blog hop. I love these collection and I hope to read this one soon.

Cnnamongirl at aol dot com

Unknown said...

I am so excited to see this collection featured. It's on my want to read list. I had so much fun stoping at all the blog hops along the way. Thank you for participating.

Cnnamongirl at aol dot com

Regina said...

Great review! Loved this book, but love the authors more! I keep saying it, they are fabulous and talented!

Patty said...

Sounds like a fun collection! I am slightly familiar with a few of the authors but not most of them.

Pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

Donna B said...

Oh my, what a collection! I'm looking forward to reading all of these great stories. Thanks for these reviews and giveaways. d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com

Connie Porter Saunders said...

I'm not familiar with some of the authors featured in this collection but I hope to read their stories very soon. Thanks for your review.
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Trixi said...

I love apple pie and the featured story sounds like a winner in my book (no pun intended)! Thank you for your lovely review and participation in the blog hop. I've been following along and have enjoyed each bloggers perspective. This collection sounds delightful and fun! I do really love the Barbour sets and have a few on my shelf, would love to add this one.

Caryl Kane said...

Excellent review, Carol! These novella collections are wonderful. Thank you for participating in the tour.

psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

Trixi said...

I forgot my email address!

teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

Carol E. Keen said...

Thank you all so much for stopping by and commenting. :)
To Carrie Fancett Pagels, thank you for writing in this book, and stopping by my blog.
I appreciate each and every one of your comments. I hope you get to read this book and that you enjoy it as much as I have!
Blessings, Carol :)

Carrie Fancett Pagels said...

Hi DEANNE, REGINA, PATTY, DONNA, CARYL, TRIXI and CONNIE! I know some of you have won on the blog hops and I hope you'll enjoy the book! Thanks so much for coming by CAROL's blog! Blessings!