Today, I have a paranormal romance in our book blitz spotlight! Learn about Once Upon a Blue Moon and author Avery Arujo! 

Paranormal Romance/Mystery

Date Published: July 1, 2025

 

Many of our posts contain affiliate links.

Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
affiliate partner. 

About the Book

Magic, mystery, and enemies-to-something-much-sweeter collide in this cozy paranormal romance full of heart, humor, and hexes.

 

Hazel Thornton is a small-town witch with a knack for brewing potions, botching spells, and annoying her grumpy werewolf neighbor, Blake Carter. But when a magical mishap leaves them trapped in each other’s bodies, they’re forced to work together—awkwardly, sarcastically, and very much against their will. 

 

To make matters worse, Moonridge is on edge. Wolves are acting strange. Magic is going haywire. And beneath Hazel’s apothecary, something old and dangerous is waking up. As Hazel and Blake stumble through spellwork, supernatural politics, and a suspiciously perfect wellness guru with a shady agenda, one thing becomes clear: this body swap isn’t their biggest problem. 

 

As Hazel and Blake race to reverse the spell, they uncover secrets that could tear the town apart. But the deeper they dive into the mystery, the more they realize their biggest problem might not be magic... it might be how much they’re falling for each other.

About the Author

Avery Arujo is the pen name of a neurodivergent, painfully shy, and proudly introverted writer who has finally decided to dip her toes into the chaotic world of self-publishing.

 

Though she’s been quietly writing for years (mostly through anonymous fanfic and enthusiastic encouragement for other writers) this marks her first official foray into paranormal-romance-mysteries. (ParaRoMystery?) It was the quiet days of the COVID pandemic, the persistent voices of the Moonridge characters in her head, and the gentle (okay, sometimes pushy) insistence of family and friends that nudged her toward publishing. 

 

Avery lives in the northern U.S., where it’s cold more often than not, with two opinionated dogs, and a significant other who is equal parts grumpy and lovely. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her watching trashy reality TV or reading with a blanket, a cup of coffee, and at least one pet trying to prove that they are more interesting than her book.

 

Connect with the Author

Website

BookBuzz

Buy the Book

Amazon

I love finding new mystery thrillers to share! Today, I have Illusionist from the Sean McPherson Novel series by author Laurie Buchanan! Check out the novel, read an excerpt from the book, learn about the series, and author & preorder the book! 

A Sean McPherson Novel, Book 5

A contemporary crime thriller perfect for Louise Penny and Robert Dugoni fans, Illusionist presents PI McPherson with an impossible dilemma: kill an author at a writing retreat in the Pacific Northwest, or let a college student die.

Sean “Mick” McPherson drives the Pines & Quill van to Bellingham International Airport. The last time I went to the airport was to drop off the September writers in residence who barely lived to tell about their stay.

His thoughts home in on Gambino, head of a trifecta-based crime family—Seattle, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Mick tightens his grip on the steering wheel. You learned the hard way that Gambino’s reach is long and elusive. That his minions infiltrate even the most inaccessible places to do his bidding, so stay on your A game.

Last month, over the Labor Day weekend, Emma, Mick’s pregnant wife, and Carly and Brianna, the daughters of one of his best friends, Joe Bingham, were abducted and held hostage in a secluded cabin on Mount Baker by Gambino’s thugs. Joe, a Bellingham homicide detective, took a bullet in his right shoulder, saving his daughters.

After the incident, local police chief Bruce Simms referred to him, Joe, and Rafferty, Mick’s other best friend, as “The three musketeers” at a press conference. He went on to say, “Though nontraditional—an ex-cop turned PI, a homicide detective, and an FBI special agent—they accomplish what no others do; they solve crimes and put bad guys behind bars. Consistently.”

Mick smiles at what Simms didn’t say to the press—they let me assist in criminal investigations because, unlike Rafferty and Joe, I have fewer restrictions, protocols, and no red tape as a PI.

About the Author

As a novelist, photographer, and voracious reader, she never travels without three essentials—a laptop, a camera, and a book.

Growing up, she dreamed of being a magician, an international spy, and a mad scientist. There’s still time!

Her writing studio is the hayloft of a historic carriage house in the Pacific Northwest, where creativity thrives. Her husband, Len, a private pilot, and Henry, their not-so-standard Standard Poodle, join her on daily walks. She always carries a camera because sometimes, the best word choice is a picture.

A journey that left an indelible imprint on her was a 20-day, 211-mile trek across the majestic landscapes of Scotland. She, her husband, and their son hiked from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, with the pinnacle being the climb of Ben Nevis at the midpoint of their adventure, the highest point in the British Isles.

"My writing goal is simple: to leave you wanting more." —Laurie Buchanan

Catch up on the 5-Book Series!

I love finding mystery novels to share! Today, I have A Table Rock Mystery from author Tom Wood. Learn about the novel, read my review and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.  

A Len Buonfiglio/St. Pierre Caribbean Mystery

In Calypso Blue, Brian Silverman crafts a gripping tale of mystery, revenge, and redemption set against the backdrop of New York and the Caribbean. The novel follows John Saint John, a man torn between his faith, past, and responsibilities as a father, as he grapples with a life-altering decision driven by a desire for justice. As his story unfolds in the shadow of a significant historical event, another narrative emerges—one centered on Leonard Buonfiglio, an American expatriate running a bar on the island of St. Pierre. When a legendary calypso singer, Lord Ram, dies under suspicious circumstances, Leonard is reluctantly pulled into an investigation at the behest of the island’s police superintendent.

Blending elements of crime, culture, and personal reckoning, Calypso Blue explores themes of loss, second chances, and the ghosts of the past that refuse to be forgotten. With vivid storytelling and rich atmospheric detail, Silverman transports readers into a world where music, memory, and mystery intertwine.

Expect Another Engaging Mystery. This book continues the Len Buonfiglio/Caribbean mystery series. While readers can read this novel as a stand-alone mystery, I think I enjoyed this book more because I could learn a little more about Len and his past as we meet some new characters and explore new relationships and plot lines. This novel blends New York City with the Caribbean in a well-organized, well-written style that is easy to read and entertaining. Readers learn more about Len, and the elements of faith, redemption, and second chances help create an interesting novel that is difficult to leave at the end.  

Calypso Blue Combines Mystery and Life Very Well. As with the first book in the series, the author does a great job keeping his characters real and even relatable. I enjoyed the mystery elements of the novel--but the characters and their side stories that combine to create the storyline make the novel believable and much more than a crime drama. Secrets and piecing together (and facing) pieces of the past create a very full story for readers. 

Would I Recommend Calypso Blue by Brian Silverman? I have enjoyed both books from this series and would definitely follow more of Len's adventures. I enjoyed the author's writing style, realistic characters, vivid settings and the well-written mystery plot. If you enjoy strong characters who jump in to find the truth--expect to love Len. Mysteries are my favorite genre--but I also love watching relationships unfold, and secrets reveal themselves. While you could read this novel as a stand-alone story--I would begin the series at the beginning. I think I enjoyed this novel even more than the first because I am building a better understanding of Len and the dynamics surrounding his story. 

Meet the Author

Brian Silverman’s writing career has spanned over 30 years. He has written about travel, food, and sports for publications including the New York Times, Saveur, Caribbean Travel and Life, Islands, the New Yorker, New York, and others. From 2004 through 2013, he was the author of the annual Frommer’s New York City guidebook series. He co-authored the acclaimed Twentieth Century Treasury of Sports with his father, Al Silverman.

His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including Mystery Tribune, Down and Out Magazine, and Mystery Weekly. His stories have been selected to appear in The Best American Mystery Stories in 2018 and 2019, and The Best American Mystery and Suspense Stories 2021. His other short fiction has appeared in publications such as Down and Out Magazine, Mystery Magazine, Dark Waters, and Vautrin. Freedom Drop is his first published novel. He lives in Harlem, New York, with his wife, Heather, and his sons, Louis and Russell.

Connect with the Author

www.BrianSilvermanWrites.com
Goodreads
BookBub
X - @BSsilverman

Follow the Book Tour

Enter the Giveaway

 Win Big! Enter Now for Your Chance to Win!

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Brian Silverman. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

Can't see the giveaway? Click Here!

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours 

Many of our posts contain affiliate links.

A Len Buonfiglio/St. Pierre Caribbean Mystery

Len Buonfiglio is a former New York bar owner and family man. He has the perfect life until he yearns for more—for something he knows will destroy everything he had, but something he can’t resist. He makes his choice and that, along with a traumatic event, shatters his world. His life and what he had now broken, his only choice is to leave the city and his family. His flight takes him to the remote Caribbean island of St. Pierre where he opens a sports bar that he runs with his friend and partner, a young local islander named Tubby Levett.

In Freedom Drop, a genial tour guide, Rawle “Big Tree” Johns is a suspect in an American woman’s fall from a cliff and held in custody. John’s mother enlists Buonfiglio to help free her son and to prove that he had nothing to do with the woman’s death. Conflicted by the need to spend time with his sixteen-year-old daughter who he hasn’t seen in two years, Mr. Len as he’s known on the island, reluctantly agrees to help.

Buonfiglio’s search for the truth reveals that there are other, much more powerful forces involved in the woman’s death that threaten both his life and his family. In the course of his investigation, he confronts a high-ranking island politician, the local superintendent of police, the dead girl’s mother, and, ultimately, a shady yet powerful outsider investor. Was the girl’s death an accident or did Johns cause that accident? Or was she murdered? The lack of clarity—the mystery of what really happened to the girl—he realizes, reflects the enigma that is St. Pierre. It’s a riddle that, despite living on the island for several years, he still cannot solve.

Genre: Mystery
Published by: April 7, 2025 by Down & Out Books

My Review

Expect an Engaging Mystery. This was a great first book to the Len Buonfiglio/Caribbean mystery series. Readers will be immediately pulled into Len's life in St. Pierre and the island mystery that he is drawn into. The mystery itself is interesting, with enough action and thrills to hold your attention from beginning to end. I think a larger part of the mystery is Len himself! While we get to know Len in stages, we don't know all there is to know about him and his past. While the main mystery of the novel is resolved, you will definitely want to read more books to try to piece together some of the character's missing pieces or secrets!

Freedom Drop Blends Drama and Mystery Well. The author does a great job keeping his characters real and even relatable. Len's family dramas are not brushed aside in light of the crime drama that unfolds--nor are the sleuthing adventures overly done or unrealistic. The characters feel real, and the novel blends the various aspects of Len's life into a believable, entertaining storyline. 

Would I Recommend Freedom Drop by Brian Silverman? I enjoyed Len's character and following along with this first adventure. I enjoyed the author's writing style, realistic characters, vivid settings and the well-written mystery plot. If you enjoy tough, strong characters who jump in to find the truth--the author sets Len up well to fill this role in this novel and in future ones. I look forward to reading more from this series and the author--and seeing what other "mysteries" surround the main character. 

Praise for FREEDOM DROP:

"An impressive debut…Silverman capably captures the feel of his setting en route to a satisfying conclusion. A sequel is warranted."
~ Publishers Weekly

"Silverman had me at the Caribbean setting, and held me with his fully human characters—of both good and bad natures—and their situation."
~ SJ Rozan, Edgar-winning author of The Murder of Mr. Ma

"A mystery steeped in authentic Caribbean atmosphere. Silverman knows his territory, as does his hero, an ex-Marine-turned-sleuth who discovers that, even in paradise, things aren’t always what they seem."
~ Wallace Stroby, author of Heaven’s a Lie and Some Die Nameless

"A buddy book, a whodunit, and a family drama, Freedom Drop is mystery magic."
~ Reed Farrel Coleman, author of Sleepless City

"Brian Silverman’s Freedom Drop is an exciting and welcome new addition to the crime writing pantheon." ~ S.A. Cosby, author of Razorblade Tears and All the Sinners Bleed

 Buy the Book

 Amazon | Goodreads

Meet the Author

Brian Silverman’s writing career has spanned over 30 years. He has written about travel, food, and sports for publications including the New York Times, Saveur, Caribbean Travel and Life, Islands, the New Yorker, New York, and others. From 2004 through 2013, he was the author of the annual Frommer’s New York City guidebook series. He co-authored the acclaimed Twentieth Century Treasury of Sports with his father, Al Silverman.

His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including Mystery Tribune, Down and Out Magazine, and Mystery Weekly. His stories have been selected to appear in The Best American Mystery Stories in 2018 and 2019, and The Best American Mystery and Suspense Stories 2021. His other short fiction has appeared in publications such as Down and Out Magazine, Mystery Magazine, Dark Waters, and Vautrin. Freedom Drop is his first published novel. He lives in Harlem, New York, with his wife, Heather, and his sons, Louis and Russell.

Connect with the Author

www.BrianSilvermanWrites.com
Goodreads
BookBub
X - @BSsilverman

Follow the Book Tour

Enter the Giveaway

Win Big! Enter Now for Your Chance to Win!

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Brian Silverman. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

Can't see the giveaway? Click Here! 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours 

This morning, I am featuring mystery novels from the Dan Alsop Series! Check out the books, learn about author SJ Slagle & enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post!

Book 1, The Dan Alsop Series

Murder Mystery

Date Published: March 28, 2025

Many of our posts contain affiliate links.

A cowboy lies dead on the trail, shot through the heart with no one around. Detective Dan Alsop must find his killer through a maze of squabbling relatives, disgruntled friends and Hollywood mobsters. Was it a single event or will the killer strike again?

Book 2, The Dan Alsop Series

Murder Mystery

Date Published: March 28, 2025

About the Book

His mentor lies dead at his feet. Detective Dan Alsop is stretched thin with only the notion of an ancient casino robbery to guide him. His search for the elusive killer takes him to cemeteries and silver mines until he strikes again.

About the Author

 SJ SLAGLE started her career as a language arts teacher. When she began writing, her initial interest was children’s stories, but then she moved on to Western Romance, Mysteries and Historical Fiction. She has published over 30 novels and her website is www.sjslagle.com.

SJ has written several Western Romance series including the THESE NEVADA BOYS, RANCHER, and THE WESTERNERS, as well as Mystery series: FLOYD SISTERS MYSTERIES and SHERLOCK AND ME. All her books are distributed in digital, paper and audiobook formats.

Her first historical fiction novel, LONDON SPIES, was awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2018. She was given the Silver Award with the International Independent Film Awards for her screenplay called REDEMPTION. She conducts writing/publishing symposiums in her local area.

S.J. Slagle lives and works in Reno, Nevada.

Connect with the Author

Website

Facebook

Twitter: @SindaSlagle

Goodreads

Pinterest

Buy the Book

https://mybook.to/TheDanAlsopSeries

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Smashwords

 Enter the Giveaway