Home Baked Bribery by Gina Holder Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: Home Baked Bribery (Addie Masters Mysteries Book 2)

Author: Gina Holder

Genre: Christian Cozy Mystery

Release date: March 4, 2025

The annual Rockport bake sale and competition is underway. The stakes are higher than ever for the coveted Golden Whisk Award when a high-profile celebrity chef is brought in as a surprise guest judge.

The competition takes a deadly turn when the celebrity suffers an allergic reaction. When Addie’s nemesis, Kennedy Graves is banned from the competition for using almond extract, Addie volunteers to prove Kennedy innocent. As Addie investigates the death, she learns each of the local bakers had a motive to dislike the celebrity. But did one of them kill him?

Meanwhile, hundred-year-old twins, Poppy and Marigold, keep Addie hopping, looking for their missing dogs.

Will Addie be able to uncover the truth behind the celebrity judge’s death, or will she become the next victim of the mysterious shenanigans going on in Rockport?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This is a fun cozy mystery with a truly unique female sleuth. Addie specializes in junk which is an unusual career for a woman. But she has an intense interest in solving mysteries, especially when she is sure the police have the wrong person on their radar. Her character is drawn well and made this mystery enjoyable. Holder's writing style is good, adding some humor to the narrative and inserting some romance too. The pace of the novel is good and moves along. Many of the possible suspects lie so it is hard to figure out the villain until truth revelations near the end.

While this is the second in the series, I felt it read well on its own. Addie is an engaging amateur sleuth and I hope Holder has planned more adventures for her.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

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

Choco-Banana Bliss Bars

-Mac Gordon

• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed (light or dark) brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup (all-purpose) flour
• 1 cup mashed overripe banana (about 2 large bananas)
• ¾ cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Allow bananas to ripen until outside is mostly black.
2. Allow butter and egg to reach room temperature.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F.
4. Line an 8×8-inch glass baking dish with parchment paper. Spray parchment paper with non-stick cooking spray.
5. In a large bowl, combine ½ cup unsalted butter and 1 cup brown sugar. Mix at a medium-high speed for 2 minutes.
6. Add in 1 large egg, 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract, and ½ tsp salt. Mix at a medium-low speed until combined.
7. Mix in 1 cup of flour. Mix on low until just combined.
8. Fold 1 cup of mashed banana into the batter until they’re fully incorporated.
9. Fold in ¾ cup chocolate chips. Save a few chocolate chips.
10. Pour the batter into the glass dish. Sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top.
11. Bake for 33-37 minutes, until the edges are golden brown, and the center is baked through.
12. Place on a wire rack to fully cool. Gently remove the bars from the pan. Cut into squares.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 25

By the Book, April 25

Vicky Sluiter, April 26

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 26

Book Looks by Lisa, April 27

She Lives To Read, April 28

Leslie’s Library Escape, April 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 30

Madi’s Musings, May 1

Hannahbandanarama, May 1

Texas Book-aholic, May 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 4

Holly’s Book Corner, May 4

Lily’s Corner, May 5

DevotedToHope, May 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 7

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, May 8

For Him and My Family, May 8

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.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54204

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)