Book Review of 'The Puzzle Within' by Gina Holder

Hello Bookworms!

There is nothing like getting into a good romantic suspense in my opinion. I once dreamed of being an investigator myself, so when I delve into a case, I feel like I am vicariously living a dormant dream. Does anyone else do this, or is this just a me thing?

I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Romantic Suspense and don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours!

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.

My Review

It was clear from the start that The Puzzle Within wasn’t going to be your typical procedural fiction. Two characters thrust together to help solve a case and catch the bad guys isn’t unique, but when you realize they’re playing a twisted mind game that they didn’t even know they were playing, now that’s a twist that will pique your curiosity.

I am one of those people that loves a good mind game, and The Puzzle Within not only has that aspect but it also has you questioning if what you’re even reading is real. I love that!! The suspense is top-notch and unrelenting as we go on this twisted scavenger hunt with Nick and Ari, playing the perverse game right along with them, as secrets come to light and faith is tested.

What really made this story unique was the puzzles that the characters had to figure out during their investigation. The author made it to where the reader could try to figure out the cyphers right along with the characters if you so choose. This refreshingly unique idea is like an escape room in story format which is so awesome!

I adored this novel, as it fed my love of riddles and puzzles while providing a suspenseful plot and easy-to-get-behind characters. I appreciated the faith aspect and the reminder to keep faith even in uncertainty and just let God be God. An entertaining and engaging with a nice flow and overall magnetic vibe, this was one of my favorite novels so far this year. Such a fun read!

My Rating: ★★★★★

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.

Enter Giveaway

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