Friday, December 8, 2017

Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway: "Holly, Ivy, & Intrigue" by Joanie Bruce, Alexa Verde, & Denise Weimer

About the Book
Holly Ivy and Intrige-high res
Title: Holly, Ivy & Intrigue
Author: Joanie Bruce, Alexa Verde, Denise Weimer
Genre: Mystery/suspense, Christmas
Release Date: November 13, 2017
Christmas Murder Mix-Up
“I have to get rid of her now.”
After four months of a blissful marriage, Paige is devastated to overhear her husband, Cooper, say those words to his best friend. Because of a suspicious Christmas gift, a gas leak, and a home invasion, Paige’s love for Cooper is tested to the limit. Will their marriage survive the Christmas Murder Mix-up?
Holiday Pursuit
When Brianna Rockwell’s brother finds himself in danger and disappears three days before Christmas, she does everything to rescue him. Brianna dodges bullets, escapes fire, and even turns to her longtime crush for help. But the closer she gets to solving the mystery and finding her only sibling, the more desperate someone gets to silence her forever…

A HOLIDAY INTRUDER
Kelsey Jordan prefers upcycling junk and refinishing antiques for her store in a Georgia mountains town to being the center of attention. When a robbery and an unknown benefactor shove her in the middle of a decades-old mystery, and a real estate developer and a former baseball star compete for her attention, Kelsey isn’t sure who to trust.
My Thoughts
Christmas Murder Mix up by Joanie Bruce: This was a nice story.  There were parts from several different character's point of view--Paige Collins, Cooper Collins, Tag White, & Rosie   . I got caught up in the mystery and trying to figure out what exactly was happening and who was involved. I would pick up the story and before I knew it, I'd read for longer than I'd planned. I didn't want to put it down. It was a fast read, but didn't feel rushed.
Holiday Pursuit by Alexa Verde: This story definitely starts out with a bang! It was non stop action from the beginning to the end. I was surprised by the reveal of who was the "bad guy" in the mystery. I liked the faith element woven through and for growth seen in the characters. I look forward to reading more books by Alexa Verde.
A Holiday Intruder by Denise Weimer: The fact that one of the characters tatted caught my interest right away. So many people don't even know what it is, much less no how to do it! It took a little longer for the mystery to be set in motion in this story, and I had a slight idea of who might be behind it, but never imagined what actually happened. I liked Tyler and how he wanted to protect Kelsey. 

About the Authors

ESP_9231 (2)As an avid reader, Joanie Bruce welcomed the transition from reading to writing and considered it a wonderful new experience to please others with her words. She has three published Christian suspense novels, and enjoys writing from her home in the country. Thankful that God has given her the ability to write, draw and paint, Joanie strives to use them to encourage others and to honor Him in all her accomplishments.
New Author PortraitAlexa Verde penned her first literary masterpiece, a rhymed poem, at the ripe age of eight, and since has had 200 short stories, articles, and poems published in the five languages that she speaks. She has a bachelor degree in Spanish, a master’s in Russian, and enjoys writing about characters with diverse cultures. She’s worn the hats of reporter, teacher, translator, model (even one day counts!), caretaker, and secretary, but thinks that the writer’s hat suits her the best. After traveling the world and living in both hemispheres, she calls a small town in south Texas home. The latter is an inspiration for the fictional setting of her series Rios Azules Christmas and Secrets of Rios Azules.
2016headshotDENISE WEIMER holds a journalism degree with a minor in history from Asbury University. An associate editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, Denise is the author of The Restoration Trilogy, The Georgia Gold Series, romantic novella REDEEMING GRACE, and ACROSS THREE AUTUMNS: A Novella of The Backcountry Brides Collection through Barbour Publishing (May 2018). This wife and swim mom of two daughters always pauses for coffee, chocolate, old houses, and to write any story God lays on her heart.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, December 3
Mommynificent, December 6
Allofakindmom, December 7
Blogging With Carol, December 7
Janices book reviewsDecember 9
Carpe Diem, December 10
Mary Hake, December 10
Daysong ReflectionsDecember 12
Remembrancy, December 13
Multifarious, December 14
Margaret Kazmierczak, December 14
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, December 15
Pursuing StacieDecember 15
Vicky Sluiter, December 16
Bigreadersite, December 16

Giveaway

e5f4939d-cd96-45de-b748-8fb15bc1a0af
To celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit Publishing is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c515

"Holly, Ivy, & Intrigue" is available in paperback:
  • Paperback: 238 pages
  • Publisher: Celebrate Lit Publishing (November 7, 2017)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0999145142
  • ISBN-13: 978-0999145142
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches


and in Kindle edition:
  • File Size: 1305 KB
  • Print Length: 173 pages
  • Publication Date: November 13, 2017
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B0773K3SFK

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received.

5 comments:

JB said...

Thank you, Becky, for a great review of our book! I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and we appreciate the time you spent reading the book and writing a review. You mentioned the tatting in Denise's story. I would be interested to know if you tat? I learned to tat about three years ago, and I love it. Happy reading, and Merry Christmas! :-)

Becky Dempsey said...

I do tat. I taught myself in 2001 from pictures/instructions on the Internet (before the heyday of YouTube). I have taught all 4 of my kids for various degrees of success, but they are fairly young (8, 10, 11, & 13) and don't really do anything with it at this point. That is cool that you know how to tat, also.

Pam Lunsford said...

Hey Becky, I was surprised, whodunnit endings as well. I really loved this books. This one is a keeper!!
I don’t tat but I love it!

Alexa Verde said...

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Becky Dempsey!

What a wonderful review! I loved reading it. Thank you so much!

Anne Rightler said...

This sounds like my kind of book. Thank you for sharing about it. Can't wait to read it.