About the Book
Book: The Puzzle Within
Author: Gina Holder
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: June 13, 2025
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.
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My Thoughts:
Wow, what a wild ride! I was sucked into this story on page one, and it didn’t release me until I reached the end.
Ari and Nick are such fantastic characters! I loved Ari’s toughness and determination, and I appreciated that she also was not afraid to ask others for help. And Nick was a wonderful hero. I loved his super analytical mind, and I found his past career as an escape artist absolutely fascinating!
This book will twist your brain up, down, and sideways trying to piece together all the puzzles and discover the identity of the killer before it’s too late!
I loved every moment of this book SO much!
If you enjoy the banter and action-packed suspense of the NCIS franchise, and the puzzle-solving elements of National Treasure then you will LOVE this book!
I absolutely loved The Puzzle Within, and I most highly recommend it! I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher!
My review was not influenced in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.
About the Author
Gina Holder is an indie 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.
More from Gina
The story of The Puzzle Within began four years ago with the seed of an idea based on my enjoyment of Escape Rooms. I imagined a villain that moved an escape room into the “real world” and an FBI agent with nightmares that no one could or would explain.
In 2023, I entered the first five chapters into Scrivening Press’s “NovelStarts” contest and won first place in the Mystery/Suspense category. In the last three months of 2023, I wrote the entire novel, then spent the next couple of months in editing mode. My beta readers gave me feedback, and I incorporated their thoughts. In June of 2024, I entered The Puzzle Within into Scrivening Press’s “GetPubbed” contest and won the grand prize, a publishing contract.
It’s been my dream since a young age to be a traditionally published author, but it’s God who gets all the glory. I write for Him and His glory, and it’s my prayer that The Puzzle Within will touch lives as well as entertain readers.
A large focus in The Puzzle Within are the riddles, puzzles, and ciphers Enigma leaves for Arizona and Nick in their pursuit of a kidnapped teenager and the truth behind Arizona’s nightmares.
This message below is coded in Caesar Cipher. To solve, take each letter and shift it by four letters, wrapping around from Z to A. So, A=D, B=E, C=F… and so on. (Traditionally, the Caesar Cipher shifts by thirteen letters, but I didn’t want to make it that difficult.)
Once you solve the code, leave a comment below with an emoji if you’ve figured it out—but no spoilers!
Somewhere in the story, a truth waits to be uncovered.
It’s simple. It’s powerful. It’s hidden.
Can you crack the code?
Ksh mw Ksh—erh xlex’w kssh irrsxl jsv qi.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 1
For Him and My Family, August 2
Life on Chickadee Lane, August 3
Texas Book-aholic, August 4
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 6
Cover Lover Book Review, August 6
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 7
Leslie’s Library Escape, August 8
Life, Love, Writing,, August 9
Bizwings Book Blog, August 10
Holly’s Book Corner, August 11
Pause for Tales, August 12
Just Your Average reviews, August 13
For the Love of Literature, August 14 (Author Interview)
Mornings at Character Cafe, August 14
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Gina is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of books 1 and 2 of the series, Handmade Mayhem and Home Baked Bribery!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Thank you for the review
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