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?

My Home Baked Bribery Review

Home Baked Bribery is outside my list of preferred genres. I read just about everything but mystery and suspense most of the time. However, I love a book that involves baking, and I enjoyed those Hallmark mystery movies about the baker turned amateur sleuth. With that in mind, I was eager to read this one.

The story is everything you want a cozy mystery to be. It’s easy to follow, has a cast of enjoyable characters, throws in a pet (or six), and doesn’t raise your blood pressure with high levels of suspense or fear. Though the main character and amateur sleuth, Addie Masters, is not a baker, there is plenty of baking going on to tempt readers with a sweet-tooth. And I think Addie’s unusual profession is an even better choice for her mystery-solving than if she was a baker. The fact that she’s from a small-town and knows nearly every suspect in a personal way just raises the stakes for her to find out who the killer is. It raises them for the reader too as almost every one of them is likable. You don’t want it to be this one or that one.

I do want to mention there is a bit of backstory/telling in the beginning of the story. Because of this, it took me a little longer to really immerse myself in the story. However, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book overall. The author sets readers up with not only a good cast of suspect but also a great victim.

Because she created such a detestable victim, there are plenty of suspects to choose from and a host of clues to follow. While I had certain elements figured out before the big reveal, there were still parts of the mystery that remained that way until Addie put it all together. If you’re a fan of the cozy mystery genre, or like me, a fan of baking stories, I think you’re going to enjoy this story.

I give Home Baked Bribery four stars.

Click here to get your copy!

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