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Holiday Spies: License to Bake
When two suburban dads turn a friendly Christmas cookie bet into a full-blown arms race, the holidays go from ho ho ho to oh no in record time.
In the Holiday Spies Christmas books, neighborhood nonsense collides with national
a sentient smart oven is quietly live-streaming cookie critiques to an NSA server; a Special Forces brother-in-law treats the cul-de-sac like a war zone; a bored CIA analyst calls in “just one little drone”; and somewhere, a Russian and a Chinese operative are trying to write serious threat reports about a guy who can’t bake.
On the surface, it’s Christmas in the suburbs—cookie exchanges, school pageants, HOA emails, and one very unfortunate inflatable Santa. Underneath, it’s surveillance ops, counter-ops, glitter incidents, salt-bomb recipes, and a black-site interrogation where the most incriminating evidence is a tray of overbaked gingerbread men.
Perfect for readers who love holiday hijinks, spy spoofs, and fast, episodic chaos, Holiday Spies
Domestic espionage: baby monitors as bugs, security cams as assets, and a judgmental AI oven that keeps its own case files.
Escalating disasters: from smoke alarms and bake-offs to drones, foreign agents, and a file codenamed OPERATION SUGAR COOKIE.
Actual heart: beneath the gadgets and glitter, it’s about two idiots learning that winning isn’t the point—showing up is.
Because nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a cookie contest that accidentally triggers DEFCON 3.
In the Holiday Spies Christmas books, neighborhood nonsense collides with national
a sentient smart oven is quietly live-streaming cookie critiques to an NSA server; a Special Forces brother-in-law treats the cul-de-sac like a war zone; a bored CIA analyst calls in “just one little drone”; and somewhere, a Russian and a Chinese operative are trying to write serious threat reports about a guy who can’t bake.
On the surface, it’s Christmas in the suburbs—cookie exchanges, school pageants, HOA emails, and one very unfortunate inflatable Santa. Underneath, it’s surveillance ops, counter-ops, glitter incidents, salt-bomb recipes, and a black-site interrogation where the most incriminating evidence is a tray of overbaked gingerbread men.
Perfect for readers who love holiday hijinks, spy spoofs, and fast, episodic chaos, Holiday Spies
Domestic espionage: baby monitors as bugs, security cams as assets, and a judgmental AI oven that keeps its own case files.
Escalating disasters: from smoke alarms and bake-offs to drones, foreign agents, and a file codenamed OPERATION SUGAR COOKIE.
Actual heart: beneath the gadgets and glitter, it’s about two idiots learning that winning isn’t the point—showing up is.
Because nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a cookie contest that accidentally triggers DEFCON 3.
900 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2025
2 people are currently reading
1181 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 30, 2025
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. While I was so excited to read this by the synopsis- and the story line was cute- I had a really hard time with the writing style. I understand it was suppose to be a comedy but it was written so chaotically it was really hard to keep focused.
January 8, 2026
I am so confused. I think this story had likeable characters and the potential for a good storyline, however- it was way to long yet unfinished and very repetitive. I wanted to DNF by chapter 3. I thought chapter 3 was a misprint as chapter one again. The end of chapter summaries were unnecessary and I eventually skipped them.
This book starts out with the end plot in the first couple of chapters about a man getting arrested by 19 different agencies for a chaotic mixup from two neighbors competing in a Christmas cookie competition. So you know pretty much the entire story in the 1st few chapters, which makes it difficult to want to proceed. By about page 250/300, I thought the book was done but then it started over again with Day 1. Now mind you, it seems as if you will be going over the 19 days prior to his arrest, one day at a time but the book ends at day 5. This did not need to be a book over 900 pages. I think the storyline could be condensed into about 250 pages and start at day 1, not with how it ends and it would be more engaging. It left me confused and wanting my time back I wasted reading it.
This book starts out with the end plot in the first couple of chapters about a man getting arrested by 19 different agencies for a chaotic mixup from two neighbors competing in a Christmas cookie competition. So you know pretty much the entire story in the 1st few chapters, which makes it difficult to want to proceed. By about page 250/300, I thought the book was done but then it started over again with Day 1. Now mind you, it seems as if you will be going over the 19 days prior to his arrest, one day at a time but the book ends at day 5. This did not need to be a book over 900 pages. I think the storyline could be condensed into about 250 pages and start at day 1, not with how it ends and it would be more engaging. It left me confused and wanting my time back I wasted reading it.
February 19, 2026
James and Derek are two suburban dad's living in McLean, Virginia who have found themselves in a Christmas cookie competition. Derek has won the neighborhood competition the past 7 years and after feeling like he was being challenged, James has decided to try and dethrone him. But these two dad's can't just keep this as a simple baking competition. After escalating and getting others involved, the competition turns into an international incident, resulting in over 19 different government agencies being involved.
This is a really hard review for me write, because I genuinely love the concept of this book. And, I think the author's writing is creative and witty. Having said that, if the author ever reads this review, I hope he takes my rating and criticism constructively, as I think he has a lot of potential. The issue with this book, however, can be summarized in one word - editing.
In other book reviews I've done, I've talked about how I think some editing could improve the book. In this instance, it's not just minor editing that's needed. It's major editing. First and foremost, the book is way too long. A book in this genre should take the average person 3-4 hours to read and be about 300 pages. This book (according to my Kindle) was a 9 hour read and over 900 pages. The first 30% of the book covers Christmas Eve day when the feds show up and start investigating what happened. Then you turn to Chapter 21, and the story starts all over again on "Day 1" of the competition. The rest of the book through Chapter 74 covers only Days 1 -5. And then it just stops. Abruptly. It was like the author either a) realized he had a book that was three times as long as it should be and finally stopped, or b) he gave up.
This book needs major editing. Entire chapters could be eliminated as there is so much repetition. It needs to be totally restructured. Additionally, there are inconsistencies throughout. One example is that James' family dog (Ringo) in one chapter inexplicably gets talked about as the dog of Derek's family. And then the next paragraph goes back to being James' dog.
This book had so much potential. The concept is hilarious - what happens if a Christmas cookie competition gets out of control. There are also really great messages in the characters. James, who feels inadequate as a person and just wants a win. Derek, who seems to lead the picture perfect life but has really been cheating to make everyone believe he is perfect. The CIA analyst who thought he was joining the CIA for adventure, but ended up with a desk job and is so bored that helping his friend with a baking competition is the most exciting thing in his life. The wives who love their husbands despite their flaws.
As much as I love the concept, I can't recommend anyone dedicate the time to read this whole book. Maybe read up to Chapter 21 and then move on.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a really hard review for me write, because I genuinely love the concept of this book. And, I think the author's writing is creative and witty. Having said that, if the author ever reads this review, I hope he takes my rating and criticism constructively, as I think he has a lot of potential. The issue with this book, however, can be summarized in one word - editing.
In other book reviews I've done, I've talked about how I think some editing could improve the book. In this instance, it's not just minor editing that's needed. It's major editing. First and foremost, the book is way too long. A book in this genre should take the average person 3-4 hours to read and be about 300 pages. This book (according to my Kindle) was a 9 hour read and over 900 pages. The first 30% of the book covers Christmas Eve day when the feds show up and start investigating what happened. Then you turn to Chapter 21, and the story starts all over again on "Day 1" of the competition. The rest of the book through Chapter 74 covers only Days 1 -5. And then it just stops. Abruptly. It was like the author either a) realized he had a book that was three times as long as it should be and finally stopped, or b) he gave up.
This book needs major editing. Entire chapters could be eliminated as there is so much repetition. It needs to be totally restructured. Additionally, there are inconsistencies throughout. One example is that James' family dog (Ringo) in one chapter inexplicably gets talked about as the dog of Derek's family. And then the next paragraph goes back to being James' dog.
This book had so much potential. The concept is hilarious - what happens if a Christmas cookie competition gets out of control. There are also really great messages in the characters. James, who feels inadequate as a person and just wants a win. Derek, who seems to lead the picture perfect life but has really been cheating to make everyone believe he is perfect. The CIA analyst who thought he was joining the CIA for adventure, but ended up with a desk job and is so bored that helping his friend with a baking competition is the most exciting thing in his life. The wives who love their husbands despite their flaws.
As much as I love the concept, I can't recommend anyone dedicate the time to read this whole book. Maybe read up to Chapter 21 and then move on.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 6, 2026
I received a free copy from the Goodreads giveaway.
I wanted so badly to love this book. It has so many hilarious incidents, but the book is overly long and not in an acceptable completed form. If it was shorter and better organized, it would be very enjoyable (in a silly way). I laughed a lot. However the repetitiveness took away from the enjoyment. I think the author would need to pick and choose a few viewpoints from each day so it didn't spiral to over 900 pages of repeated information to the reader.
I agree with another reviewer that the entire story was told by chapter 20. Then... "To understand the story, let’s go back to the beginning Day 1 - December 1, 2025". (Calling this the first half)
I read the entire 900+ pages, where it then proceeded to tell the days 1-5 of the cookie competition from just about every character's viewpoint. I think the author realized he was only on day 5 and at 900 pages, so he just stopped writing. (Calling this the second half)
There were some inconsistencies between the "first" and "second" halves, too. Was James making snickerdoodles with buttercream frosting or sugar cookies? Maybe he changed his mind after day 5, when he had been simply learning how to make sugar cookies. Who knows. But he ended with making snickerdoodles with buttercream frosting. Did only he and Ben eat the salt bomb/fake recipe cookies, or did he feed them to the neighborhood? Did the wives try to stop their husbands from spiraling out of control with this cookie competition, or did they (in their texting wives group) know about it and want to see how far their husbands would take it?
I loved the characters and especially loved the Russian spy's fascination with the magnificent sparkly dog. I liked how James wanted to win something for once in his life. I liked how Derek felt guilty but couldn't face telling the neighborhood that he cheated, and how he made the nativity scene because it was honest. I liked that Nora didn't expect James to be perfect or to win, but to try and not give up. I liked the wives secretly texting each other about their husbands' actions. I liked Ellie with her binders of knowledge. I liked that the oven knew everything and was talking to James to help him improve (although I'd hate this in real life). I love all the craziness and that so many federal agencies and spies became involved. There is so much potential for a silly & hilarious story, but it needs to be edited a bunch.
After the salt and glitter incidents, the conversations between James and Nora are almost identical when they talk about his insecurities and wanting so badly to win something. And if he loses the competition they would still get to eat cookies.
I would not spend money on this book in this format, but it has potential if it can be condensed and less repetitive. This is your life now.
I wanted so badly to love this book. It has so many hilarious incidents, but the book is overly long and not in an acceptable completed form. If it was shorter and better organized, it would be very enjoyable (in a silly way). I laughed a lot. However the repetitiveness took away from the enjoyment. I think the author would need to pick and choose a few viewpoints from each day so it didn't spiral to over 900 pages of repeated information to the reader.
I agree with another reviewer that the entire story was told by chapter 20. Then... "To understand the story, let’s go back to the beginning Day 1 - December 1, 2025". (Calling this the first half)
I read the entire 900+ pages, where it then proceeded to tell the days 1-5 of the cookie competition from just about every character's viewpoint. I think the author realized he was only on day 5 and at 900 pages, so he just stopped writing. (Calling this the second half)
There were some inconsistencies between the "first" and "second" halves, too. Was James making snickerdoodles with buttercream frosting or sugar cookies? Maybe he changed his mind after day 5, when he had been simply learning how to make sugar cookies. Who knows. But he ended with making snickerdoodles with buttercream frosting. Did only he and Ben eat the salt bomb/fake recipe cookies, or did he feed them to the neighborhood? Did the wives try to stop their husbands from spiraling out of control with this cookie competition, or did they (in their texting wives group) know about it and want to see how far their husbands would take it?
I loved the characters and especially loved the Russian spy's fascination with the magnificent sparkly dog. I liked how James wanted to win something for once in his life. I liked how Derek felt guilty but couldn't face telling the neighborhood that he cheated, and how he made the nativity scene because it was honest. I liked that Nora didn't expect James to be perfect or to win, but to try and not give up. I liked the wives secretly texting each other about their husbands' actions. I liked Ellie with her binders of knowledge. I liked that the oven knew everything and was talking to James to help him improve (although I'd hate this in real life). I love all the craziness and that so many federal agencies and spies became involved. There is so much potential for a silly & hilarious story, but it needs to be edited a bunch.
After the salt and glitter incidents, the conversations between James and Nora are almost identical when they talk about his insecurities and wanting so badly to win something. And if he loses the competition they would still get to eat cookies.
I would not spend money on this book in this format, but it has potential if it can be condensed and less repetitive. This is your life now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews