Book Review | The Puzzle Within + Giveaway!

Posted on June 12, 2025 By Theresa @ TheCalicoBooks

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The Puzzle Within JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Puzzle Within by Gina Holder, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Puzzle Within

Series: The Game Masters #1

Author: Gina Holder

Publisher: Scrivenings Press LLC

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Genre: Romantic Suspense

FBI agent Arizona Powers is haunted by nightmares—fragments of a childhood kidnapping no one believes ever happened. Still recovering from a nervous breakdown, she accepts a protection assignment for Bridgette Van Sloan, the strong-willed teenage daughter of a U.S. ambassador who’s been receiving threats signed: Enigma. Nick Trueheart, a former escape artist known as “Nick of Time” turned diplomatic risk analyst, is grieving the loss of his beloved wife—and obsessed with finding her killer. When assigned to Bridgette’s security detail, his biggest concern isn’t the threats—it’s the unstable agent with a vendetta against kidnappers. When Bridgette disappears from an escape room, Nick and Arizona become entangled in a high-stakes puzzlehunt and a race against time. They must confront their own failures and unravel the secrets hidden within themselves to rescue Bridgette … and survive a madman’s twisted game. Because one thing becomes clear: Enigma’s real target is much bigger — and far more personal.

*I received a gifted copy of this book. Thank you to the author and publisher! All thoughts and opinions are my own!*

This book gripped me! From the very first chapter I was hooked and the story kept me that way until the very end. This was my first Gina Holder book, but it definitely will not be my last!

This mystery was absolutely intriguing. There were many puzzles and ciphers throughout this book that gave it such a “classic” mystery style, which I really loved. I found myself trying to figure out what happened to Bridgette right alongside Arizona and Nick.

And speaking of Nick and Arizona, I absolutely loved their chemistry! The romance was swoony and perfectly paced without overshadowing the mystery at hand. I also appreciated Ari’s back story and the honesty and vulnerability that came with it.

Overall I really enjoyed The Puzzle Within. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mystery novels!

About the Author

Gina Holder is a hybrid author and stay-at-home mom. She’s had an infatuation with books for as long as she can remember. She loves sharing uplifting messages from God’s Word and introducing readers to new and new-to-them authors on her blog. When she’s not writing, Gina enjoys playing the piano, cooking, reading, watching Hallmark mysteries, and solving “escape room” puzzles. She loves growing in her craft as an author. She published her debut novel in 2017. Gina lives in Wyoming with her husband and daughter.

Connect with Gina by visiting storiesbygina.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card, a signed paperback copy of The Puzzle Within, and a pair of wooden jigsaw puzzle earrings!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 10, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 17, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!