The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection
- Author: Jennifer AlLee ,Angela Breidenbach, Darlene Franklin,Cynthia Hickey,Carrie Fancett Pagels, Tiffany Amber Stockton, Niki Turner, Gina Welborn, Becca Whitham
- Publisher: Barbour Books
- Print Length: 448 pages
- Release Date: November 1, 2016
- I Rate it:
- Genre: Christian
- Purchase on Amazon
Book Summary
Guest Post from Angela Breidenbach
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks…
By Angela Breidenbach
In Seven Medals and a Bride, Bettina enjoys the new inventions on display at the Columbian Expedition. That’s the name of the World’s Fair in 1893. The entire fair grounds were built on a marsh in Chicago and never expected to last more than the six months of the event. All the buildings sparkled a brilliant white, and so it was dubbed The White City. Although the “city” wasn’t expected to last beyond that event, many of the inventions did—so much so that they became household staples. Do you know what some of those inventions are that you use regularly today?
- Electricity! The White City was so bright it dazzled the world, but the massive building that powered the lights was plagued by noise and fires all that summer.
- The telephone—people were able to place calls in booths inside The White City.
- Shredded Wheat—you eat that, right? (Okay, I know it’s not your favorite cereal, but did you know cereal wasn’t common before it was introduced at the Columbian Expedition?)
- Coca-cola—it was a huge hit! But back then it was also used as a medicinal in the syrup form. Did your grandmother give you a teaspoon or two for upset stomach? No? Mine did. Coca-cola syrup became a medicinal staple due to excellent marketing.
- Cracker Jacks—the original form that debuted was pretty sticky. It wasn’t until a few years later that the company managed to bake the confection into a dryer, less sticky form in order to mass sell it nationwide. But Chicagoans could order it regularly from a little shop in the middle of town before the World’s Fair ever opened.
Little survives today of The White City splendor. A few buildings that have been refurbished and turned into museums stand as a memory. But flip on your lights, open your fridge for a soda, and check your cupboards for that caramel treat to take to the ball game and the spirit of the Columbian Expedition will live on… Psst, be sure to share a little Americana Past with your children.
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!
Christian Historical Romance Author, Represented by Joyce Hart. Author of “Snowed In” in Guidepost Books “A Cup of Christmas Cheer” (October 2013). This two volume set sold through the initial 30,000 print run in under a month, with a second printing already done. Author of “Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance,” Helping Hands Press (2013) a top-rated Civil War book on Amazon. Contributor to “God’s Provision in Tough Times,” Lighthouse of the Carolinas (July 2013).
Administrator of two popular group blogs: Overcoming With God and Colonial Quills.
Other The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection Authors
Angela Breidenbach
Jennifer AlLee
Darlene Franklin
Cynthia Hickey
Tiffany Amber Stockton
Gina Welborn
Becca Whitham
Book Review by Bree Herron
** Authors, I am honored to read this book and highlight it all month long on my blog! Each of you will get your story reviewed and presented independently.
When the chance came to read this collection, my fingers didn’t hesitate they were quick to to the keyboard. I love stories about the fair! I have such fond memories as a child participating as a rodeo queen and horse show gal, that I was eager to be swept back in time to other unique ways to have participated. Carrie’s character Sarah was beautifully written and a star in her own way.
Sarah, is a soft character and in your mind you are quick to envision this pretty, lady with eyes that give away emotions and smile that could light up the room. She is quite, but holds many of her own opinions and when she feels the butterflies for the hot air balloon man, Grant she prays to know how to handle it. These two are charming characters, and I would love to actually read more about them (hmm, Carrie can this happen?) as with many anthologies you get an ending that gives you hope for more but a settling feeling for what was granted.
If you haven’t read any of Carrie’s work before, or even if you have this is one of her best. I rank it up there in the top three. I loved all the humorous, and silly, uppity characters that were causing stress/worry in Sarah. I loved reading Sarah’s communication with God, and I love the quilt image that was granted to us readers in descriptions. This is truly, a 10 star story, If I could give that!
Let’s go to the fair, tell me what you loved about the fair?
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
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
To celebrate their tour, the ladies have come up with a fabulous giveaway! This is including a kindle fire!For your chance to win enter today!
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Wow, a ten star review, BREE!!! That would be amazing!!! Thanks so much for your kind words and I’m so glad you enjoyed Sarah Richmond and Grant’s story! She is very sweet but also has that good stiff backbone from growing up as a Yooper woman! Thanks so much for being part of the tour and for reviewing the other authors’ stories in upcoming blog posts!!! Hugs!!!
Lovely review of a fabulous collection! Congratulations to all these wonderful authors.
Thanks, BETTI! We’re all so excited about this release! Blessings!
Per random.org, you are our winner on Bree’s blog, Betti! Congrats!
What a lovely review. Thank you for sharing.
ANNE, thanks for coming by!
I’m a fan of Fair food. I went to the World Fair in New Orleans (1985, I think). One of my cousins was with me. Another relative who grew up in NOLA outlined some terrific spots we should go to for dining on a map, just in case we got bored at the fair and went exploring. The cousin I was traveling with was very aggressive about not spending her $–and she felt I should be too. After hours of walking all over the fairgrounds in NOLA, in July, I was “hangry” (if only we’d known that was a thing back then)! Finally around 4 in the afternoon the breakfast I’d had at 7am was completely gone. I told her I was going to take the map our relative had outlined for us and find some food–since all that Fair food was too expensive for her (and me, or so she thought). Well, it took another hour and a half of riding a cable car from one end of the line & back, the purchase of a Pepsi & a Dixie Beer (that I didn’t order or drink) and wandering through the Sheraton Hotel near the French Quarter looking for a water fountain that didn’t exist before the third spot on our map panned out to be THE spot that was still open & serving food: the home of the original muffuletta, The Central Grocery. I ordered the biggest one they sold. It was about the size of a dinner plate–or so it seemed. We took our sandwiches down to the waterfront and sat and ate while someone on a saxophone serenaded us with beautiful jazz music. Once I got over being “hangry”, I realized it was just a perfect day and that I wouldn’t trade ANY of it for ANY ol’ Fair food.
JJ I hope you didn’t go to any more fairs with her lol!
I thoroughly enjoyed finding out about the things that were introduced at the 1893 World’s Fair.
Excellent review, Bree!
Thank you, Bree, for the lovely review and for participating in the blog tour!
Loved this collection of authors.. If I win a copy I’d gift it to my Sister-in-law, my reading buddy!! Nice review Bree..
I’m finding out a lot of interesting facts from all of these blogs. I can hardly wait to read this book collection! Thanks for this great giveaway.
Thanks, Donna, for visiting the blog hops! Glad you are enjoying them. We had fun writing these stories! Blessings!
I always love stories about fairs and quilt/jam/whatever competitions!! Mostly, I think, because they are usually small town and I haven’t lived in small towns nearly enough. 🙂
Sometimes I wish I could give some books more than the 5 stars that we are allowed to give. This collection is great. Thanks for sharing your review.
As a child, I was always in awe of the rides, foods you could only get at the State Fair, the rabbit exhibits, and a huge (perhaps 10 feet tall) talking mannequin “Freddy” who was at the entrance to the Ky. State Fair exposition center each year.
Congrats to Carrie – and the other eight authors – on ‘The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection’!!
Carrie’s story is good! I loved the surprise at the end.
All the stories in this collection are good. I have read each one more than once 😉
Great review Bree!
The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection is a wonderful book full of amazing stories by some very gifted authors!
Never been to a state fair but growing up we went to the county fair every year. My sister and I loved riding the rides and later when my brother was old enough he joined us on those rides. Years later I enjoyed visiting the craft displays and of course must have some of the delicious foods offered at the fair. After I got married, we took our two sons and watched them ride the rides and enjoy stuffing themselves.
Blessings, Tina
Great review – I learned a few more historical tidbits. Thanks 🙂
Great review, Bree! This was an excellent book. I loved beta reading it for Carrie. Then reading and reviewing it for Netgalley. Please don’t enter me in the book contest.
I also have fond memories of the fair from my childhood and also later with my own children. I know I’m going to enjoy this collection. I always love Carrie’s stories and her characters.
Loved this collection of novellas. Thank you for the review!
This is a beautiful book. I’m sure it a great one too. I actual won a copy from CBD. But if I won another one I would give it to my reading buddy.
Great review. Loved this collection!
Awesome review!
I loved reading and reviewing this collection of novellas! Blue Ribbon Brides is an awesome book!!
A great review! These nine novellas were great!! Written by nine talented and amazing authors!!
Love this! 🙂
Great review!
Such an amazing cover and it’s by my favorite authors. Love your review. On my want to read list.
Oh, I love the cover. So comforting looking. I can’t wait to read this fun book.
Wonderful review Bree. I loved this collection of stories.
I already have this collection but haven’t read it yet. Love fairs, though I was part of the horse side of things back in my high school days.