Book Title:  THE THINGS THEY DIDN'T SEE by Angela Shaeffer
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 358 pages 
Genre: Women's Fiction, Family Saga
Publisher:  Wander Lane Press
Release date:   June 2025
Content Rating:  PG + M: Mild profanity with some mature themes (self harm, suicide attempt)   

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.

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This morning, I have a culinary themed cozy mystery to share! Learn about Truffles to Die For from The Cook and Inspector Mysteries by Joanne Pence! 

The Cook and Inspector Mysteries, Book 9

Date Published: June 25, 2025

When culinary dreamer Angie Amalfi sets her sights on chocolate stardom, her kitchen becomes a cocoa-covered lab of decadent disasters and divine delights. Her goal? To invent the perfect chocolate candy—“angelinas”—a melt-in-your-mouth masterpiece that could finally make her name in San Francisco’s cutthroat foodie scene. 

But when Angie donates her “not-quite-there-yet” test batches to a local charity mission, she stumbles into more than gratitude. The mission’s minister seems to have secrets simmering beneath his saintly smile, and when Angie volunteers for their big fundraiser, she’s suddenly stirring up something far more sinister than ganache. 

Her fiancé, Inspector Paavo Smith, warns her to stay away—especially with rumors swirling of police corruption and a killer on the loose. But when Paavo is framed and suspended, Angie ditches her spatula for sleuthing gear. Someone’s cooking up a setup—and she’s not about to let Paavo take the fall. 

To help clear his name, Angie will need more than her confectionery skills… and the clock is ticking. 

Sink your teeth into Truffles to Die For—a deliciously suspenseful cozy mystery. Indulge yourself in murder with a chocolate twist!

About the Series

The Cook and Inspector Mysteries

A Quiche Before Dying, Book 2

The Marinara Murders, Book 3

Close Encounters of the Deadly Kind, Book 4

Death by Devil’s Food, Book 5

Blind Date’s Bitter End, Book 6

The Taverna Affair, Book 7

The Music Box Mystery, Book 8

Truffles to Die For, Book 9

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About the Author

"Joanne Pence is a master of the mystery genre. She pulls the reader in and sets the roller coaster in motion."--Carolyn Haines, USA Today bestselling author 

"Joanne Pence provides laughter, love, and cold chills." --Carolyn Hart, NY Times bestselling author

"Angie Amalfi is the Queen of the Culinary Sleuths" --RT Book Club

"Joanne Pence is a master chef"--Mystery Scene magazine

"Pence's tongue-in-cheek humor keeps us grinning." --San Francisco Chronicle

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This morning, I wanted to share a military romance with you! Check out The General's Daughter, read a quick excerpt from the book, and learn about author Caryn Hacker-Buechel.

Military Romance

Date Published: January 23, 2025

Publisher:‎ MindStir Media

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Cara is almost fifty, and nearly penniless. She needs a fresh start and when a unique job falls in her lap, she moves to Saudi Arabia to work for the royal family, never dreaming the change would quickly spiral into a nightmare. Cara is alone and powerless, trapped in the crosshairs of a human trafficking ring.

Meanwhile, the kidnapping of a young, American female triggers a risky military rescue with General Sam Kennedy leading the Special Forces team into Riyadh, throwing Cara and Sam into the same chaos. Cara is now enmeshed in the spinning wheels of this deadly conflict, managed from the White House Situation Room, and exploding in real time within the opulent Royal palace.

Unravel the threads of survival, courage, and unexpected love in this gripping tale of resilience against the odds.

About the Author

Caryn Hacker-Buechel keeps her computer nearby, often writing in coffee shops, on beaches, and in her own Naples, Florida, backyard. After thirty years as a master-degreed psychotherapist and relationship expert in the public and private sector, she finally retired and turned her attention to completing the novel she had worked on for ten years.

The General's Princess is her debut novel and second book. The award-winning first book, A Bully Grows Up: Erik Meets the Wizard, was written for children. In both, Caryn creates characters rich in dramatic, realistic traits, portraying psychological and behavioral depth, utilizing the knowledge she gained as an observer of human behavior and emotional trauma. The concepts will touch your life.

Her journey through love, marriage, children, divorce, travel, stepchildren, and grandchildren is reflected in her writing. The adventure can be intense but also emotionally healing. She hopes you enjoy the ride.

Read an Excerpt

P r ol o g u e

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
January 3, 2005

“MISS HART,” THE DRIVER BEGAN, speaking slowly, rubbing his chin with one hand and
shifting the car into park with the other. “Mr. Assad say you no have burka. I bring for you.” The man stared, face for-ward, while he spoke although he pointed over his shoulder to the limo’s back seat. “Put it on.”

Sitting behind and to the driver’s right, Cara watched his muscles move at the hollow of his
cheek. “Excuse me,” she said gently. “Mr. Tawfik? I don’t understand. What do you want me to do? Put what on?” She heard him huff in response. “Anyway, why have we stopped?” Her
anxiety was growing, along with uncertainty regarding her decision to travel so far from home.

She looked out the sedan’s window to an enormous building, a sidewalk leading to a glass
revolving door. Then she twisted toward a busy road on her left, searching for an escape route,
and shook her head, hearing the warnings from her adult children, Nick and Vicki, plead-ing with her to stay in Florida and not take that job in Saudi Arabia. “Crazy,” they called it. “Dangerous.” Cara swallowed hard and forcefully exhaled. She remembered her excitement when she signed the employ-ment contract, packed her clothes, and finally boarded the plane. The driver muttered in Arabic. Cara heard disgust on his tongue, and she breathed slowly to steady herself.

Forty minutes ago, Mr. Tawfik quickly introduced himself at the Riyadh International Airport. “I drive for the royal family,” he had said, tucking the sign with her name on it into a folder. “Mr. Assad sent me.

This way, please.” Tawfik took the handles of her two suitcases and pointed toward the exit with his bearded chin. She followed behind, struggling to catch up. Her athletic shoes shushed
against the tile, sounding as if she were jogging.

The man was slender, perhaps twenty years old, like Nick, Cara thought, remembering the tiny
apartment she had shared with her son out of necessity in Florida. At that moment, Cara
questioned why she had left her children—again.

Tawfik harrumphed, and she looked at the man behind the steering wheel, head covered in
white cotton, a black circular band securing the cascading fabric. Cara leaned slightly forward.
“Please tell me again what you want me to do. I’ve never worn a burka.”

“Cover yourself.”

Cara’s eyes grew wide. Her open hand floated to the front of her black short-sleeved
top. Carumba! I’m here an hour, and already in trouble! She thought of the women at the airport coffee shop and how they were confined under black burkas, their heads completely covered except for their eyes. She pressed her lips together and chastised herself, remember-ing the athletic jacket in her handbag, which she forgot to put on while hurrying through the crowds to find her luggage. After reading that New York Times article which described Riyadh as a modern bustling city that welcomed Westerners, she presumed yoga pants, a t-shirt, and sneakers would be fine. How foolish of me. Her initial excitement faded, and she began to second-guess every decision that led to this trip.

“I am sorry if I upset you,” she said. “I can put on a jacket. I have one in my handbag. Could you make the air conditioning colder?”

When he didn’t answer, Cara sighed, lifted both hands and pushed her long, dark hair behind
her ears. She looked out the window to the bustling sidewalk filled with pedestrians in white
robes, headdresses, and black burkas. Only rarely did someone in Western clothes walk past
the sedan.

She surveyed several of the massive storefront windows. The clos-est displayed mannequins of both sexes in exquisite robes, their hands positioned toward each other as if in conversation.
The signage stated: Harvey Nichols Department Store, and next to that was Louis Vuitton, and
then the Saudi Fragrance House. Cara remembered a short snip of an article about this famous
shop, which opened in 1932 and knownfor its exotic blends. She silently promised to pay it a
visit at some point. But then wondered why they had stopped here now? This isn’t where I’m
supposed to go! “Mr. Tawfik,” Cara began as her heartbeat quickened. “I wonder…”

“No!” he bellowed, interrupting her. “Air is cold.”

“Um, Mr. Assad said I would go directly to the palace.”

Tawfik muttered under his breath. “Next to you. Burka and scarf are in bag.” This time, he glanced into the rearview mirror. “Cover your arms and hair. Put on now! We wait.”

Cara shook her head and glanced at the seat to her left. She picked up the waiting leather tote
and peeked inside. Her trembling fingers reached in and pulled an array of black wrinkled fabric into the light. She caught a glimpse of the driver’s dark eyes, still focused on her from the rearview mirror above a small bouquet of hanging white flowers.

Raising the clumped material so the driver would see that she intended to follow his instructions, Cara paused, letting the fabric lay on her thighs. In response, the man turned his body and reached his arm over the seatback, startling her.

Tawfik shoved a piece of folded ivory paper toward Cara. Repeatedly, he waved the note close
to her sweat-moistened face. The tiny waft of air caused by the driver’s frenzied movements
pushed two seconds of relief toward Cara’s perspiration-covered and exposed arms and
shoulders. There was barely any air conditioning in the vehicle, and despite the perfumed
flowers hanging from the rearview mirror, a stench floated on the air.

Week-old cheese and BO, she thought, then tried to force her face to relax, remembering he
was staring at her. She did not want to offend, not any more than she already had.

“Madam,” his tone was flat and cautionary. “Take letter. It is from boss, Mr. Assad.”

Through pursed lips, Cara took a stabilizing breath. She reached her bare arm toward Tawfik,
took the stationery, and unfolded the note with trembling fingers. Seeing the royal family’s raised crest, crossed palm trees, and swords calmed her. She read every word, satisfied that the note was authentic, and stuffed it into her purse.

Cara moved the burka to the leather backseat and laid the scarf beside it. Following Mr. Assad’s letter and instructions, she unzipped the front.

“Everything will be fine,” Assad had promised in the note. “Follow my requests, and I will see
you later.”  

Cara pulled one black placket behind her back and slid her hands into the sleeves before pulling the fabric onto her shoulders. The connect-ing length of material clung to the perspiration that ran down her spine and dotted her shoulders. The remainder of the cloth pooled on the seat behind her. She tugged at the two front panels until they met between her breasts, and her fitted top and yoga pants disappeared under yards of black. Dragging the matching scarf over her hair, she looked out the car’s window for possible instruction.

Spotting several women on the sidewalk, she pulled the scarf against her head, mimicking the
passersby whose hair was covered. Then Cara shrugged, grabbed both fabric ends, wrapped
them under her chin and around her neck, tied them together at the back, and let the rest fall.
She offered a half-smile to the driver, hoping for reassurance, but only saw the back of his
covered head.

Lifting her bottom from the leather seat, Cara pulled the burka into place. She hoped the long
‘zip’ would signify she was adequately concealed. Following the sound, the driver glanced at her again from the rearview mirror, his dark eyes still radiating heavy disapproval.

“Lady, tuck in hair,” he huffed. “Only show eyes, nothing else. It is haram. Forbidden.”
Cara batted away tears while adjusting the gathered fabric under her chin until only a tiny fabric-less window surrounded her eyes.

“Now, my job done,” Tawfik said flatly.

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This morning, I have a historical fiction novel to share! Learn about There's Something About You, Olivia Bennet and author Valerie G. Miller! Take a few minutes and read a quick excerpt from the book & enter the book tour giveaway at the end of this post!

Historical

Date Published: 11-26-2024

Two women. Two generations. A lifetime of secrets…

Sydney, 1989. When a secret trunk belonging to her enigmatic mother is delivered, Olivia Bennet’s safe and predictable world is thrown into disarray.

Inside the trunk, long-buried secrets tell of a different life that is totally foreign to shy and unadventurous Olivia. Secrets she’s certain her mother intended to stay hidden.

For the first time, Olivia has hope of finding answers about her father, and along with it, her identity. But only if she has the courage to face who she truly is.

Sydney, 1964. Amidst the vibrant backdrop of multicultural inner Sydney, Rosemary Benito plans to leave behind her painful past and embrace the freedom her new home offers.

While her exotic beauty attracts unwanted attention, if she works hard enough in her new country, Rosemary can become whatever—and whoever—she wants. She just has to make sure her old life doesn’t catch up with her.

Neither woman can change their pasts. But if they’re brave enough, they both have the power to determine their futures…

A poignant family saga full of love and loss that spans two generations. There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet, reveals the tender bond between mother and daughter, the undeniable ties that bind generations together, and the importance of belonging.

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Meet the Author

Valerie G. Miller is an Australian author celebrated for her dual timeline historical fiction, weaving heartfelt narratives that resonate across generations. Rooted in her Italian heritage, Valerie brings rich cultural nuances to her stories, crafting tales that celebrate family, resilience, and the deep human need for belonging. Her short stories explore the intricacies of human connection, capturing the tender moments that bind people together and create a sense of home in each other's hearts.

In addition to her writing, Valerie is training to become an accredited book coach, sharing her passion for storytelling and supporting aspiring writers on their creative journeys.

Originally from Sydney, Valerie now calls Brisbane home, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and a lively household that includes her dog and two cats. A lifelong lover of storytelling, she earned her Master of Letters in Creative Writing in 2021, further honing her craft.

Valerie is never far from her next story, always keeping a novel and a notebook tucked in her bag, ready to capture inspiration wherever it strikes.

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I love finding new psychological thrillers to share! Thrillers and mysteries are my favorites on my reading list! This week, I had the opportunity to read and review a psychological thriller from author Jeff Gunhus! Check out Blood Lasts Forever, learn about the author, read my thoughts on the book, and enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post. 

 

Jeff Gunhus is the USA TODAY bestselling author of thriller and horror novels for adults and the middle grade/YA series, The Templar Chronicles. The first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year-old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His books for adults have reached the Top 30 on Amazon, have been recognized as Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalists, Kirkus Top 100 Indie Books, and reached the USA TODAY bestseller list. As a father of five, he leads an active life in Maryland with his wife Nicole by trying to keep up with their kids. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of Old Fox Books in Annapolis, working on his next novel, or on JeffGunhus.com.

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