The Baroness’ Choices of New Books Publishing This Week
2026, Week 30’s New Books
My choices for this week include Romance, Cozy Mystery, Young Adult Romantic Comedy, Cozy Culinary Mystery, Sweet Historical Romance, and Sweet Romantic Comedy.
Can you believe July is almost over? I am trying to hit my goals this month. Which means lots of evenings reading. How are you doing on your reading challenges?
I put together a small list for you this week, and many of these sound so good. I will most likely be adding them to my TBR. Jen will be reviewing one of them.
Here are my choices for New Books Publishing Week 30 of 2026!
Lost Secrets of the Scottish Castle by Jane Lovering
Publication Date: July 19, 2026
Genre: Romantic Mystery
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The BRAND NEW page-turning, Scottish romantic mystery from BESTSELLER Jane Lovering. Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Veronica Henry and Heidi Swain.
When Perdita McKell’s brother Lennox asks her for help to fund his hairbrained scheme to renovate a tumbledown Scottish castle, she fears it will only end in disaster.
But a lifetime of sister guilt, complicated family relationships and a general sense of malaise are enough for her to ignore her instincts. The castle in question, Dunaire Castle, was the seventeenth-century home to their ancestor, the Earl George McKell, so Perdita can understand Lennox’s romantic notion that they should be the rightful owners and the ones to love it back to life.
Slowly and in ways Perdita could never have expected, Dunaire Castle begins to reveal its secrets; secrets and choices that have shaped the lives of generations of her family. As the McKell story opens up to her, Perdita realises that it’s in her hands to change the course of history and with it the course of her own life – if only she can work out how…
Let Jane Lovering whisk you away into the fascinating story of a Scottish castle, one family’s links to the past and a love story to remember. Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Veronica Henry and Heidi Swain.
A Murder at the Mansion by Ellie Alexander
Novel Detectives Mysteries #3
Publication Date: July 21, 2026
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Goodreads | Bookhype | BookBub | StoryGraph | Amazon
In the charming town of Redwood Grove, even the grandest estates have something to hide…
When reclusive heiress Bernadette Garst vanishes from her sprawling mansion, bookshop owner and investigator Annie Murray is summoned to the scene.
Arriving at the legendary Garst property, Annie and her partner Fletcher discover a household riddled with secrets, bitter family rivalries, and suspicious staff members. When Bernadette’s lawyer also goes missing, it’s clear the case is escalating into something far more dangerous.
With her keen eye for detail and a little help from her friends, Annie must piece together the clues hidden within the opulent estate grounds. Can she solve the puzzle before it’s too late?
This cozy mystery sees the Novel Detectives facing their most high-profile case yet. Perfect for fans of Lauren Elliott, Merryn Allingham and M.C. Beaton.
How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House by Jenny L. Howe
Publication Date: July 21, 2026
Genre: Young Adult Holiday Romantic Comedy
Goodreads | Bookhype | BookBub | StoryGraph | Amazon
In this spooky, small-town Summerween romance, an amateur ghost hunter and a supernatural skeptic team up for a haunted home renovation project. But is their relationship the real fixer upper?
Amity Callaway is sick of being known as the weird girl. As annoyed as she is that her recently divorced mom just moved them across the country to the tiny, quirky town of Harlow’s Rest, Massachusetts, it could be the fresh start she needs.
Until Amity discovers their absolute disaster of a new house is supposedly haunted.
Theo Hargrave, amateur ghost hunter and son of the local general contractor, is a true believer. When he shows up on their property with his EMF reader in hand, Amity is ready to debunk all his theories. She’s definitely not staring at the small scar through his eyebrow or his ridiculously soft lips.
But even Amity can admit their home renovation is doomed. Nothing is going right, from the paint that refuses to dry to the fixtures that keep coming loose. So Amity and Theo strike a deal—his family’s construction expertise for her help investigating the house’s supernatural secrets. Even scarier than ghosts, though? Amity’s growing feelings for Theo.
Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils by Sandra Jackson-Opoku
Savvy Summers Mysteries #2
Publication Date: July 21, 2026
Genre: Cozy Culinary Mystery
Goodreads | Bookhype | BookBub | StoryGraph | Amazon
The next delectable mystery featuring quick-witted, unforgettable Savvy Summers, owner of a soul food café in Chicago.
Savvy has her work cut out when an old friend hires her to cater a company luncheon at a nearby office building on Chicago’s South Side. Stepping out of her traditional soul food comfort zone, Savvy whips together a menu of Creole classics, with her own spin, of course―mini po’boys with assorted fillings, sunburst salad, and bread pudding using Great Aunt Essie’s famous buttermilk biscuits.
But when someone is found dead in the company’s conference room, Savvy’s culinary creations are suddenly in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. While the focus should be on their delicious flavors and inventive techniques, Savvy’s beloved café instead becomes the center of a murder investigation once again.
Caught within a messy web of gossip, miscommunication, and fraught coworker relationships, Savvy will have to settle the confusion to clear her name. Somebody’s hiding something, and with the help of her trusty assistant manager, Penny Lopés, Savvy sets out uncover exactly who is to blame. With familiar faces turning up the heat on her investigation and her café still in hot water, will Savvy be able to save her reputation before it’s too late?
The Heart of Honor by Winnie Griggs
Petticoats and PAtriots #6
Publication Date: July 21, 2026
Genre: Sweet Historical Mystery
She’s fighting to honor the past. He’s haunted by it.
As Hawthorn, Texas prepares for a grand celebration honoring America’s centennial and the town’s own fifty-year history, schoolteacher and archivist Mercy Owens is determined to see that every act of sacrifice and service is properly remembered. So when one local veteran refuses to take part in the festivities, she cannot simply let the matter rest.
Livery stable owner Wilson Porter has spent years quietly rebuilding his life after the Civil War left him carrying wounds no one can see. Respected by the town but haunted by the past, he wants no public recognition—especially not from a committee determined to call him a hero.
But as Mercy’s research draws her deeper into Wilson’s history, and a series of shared journeys begins to chip away at the walls between them, both must confront long-held beliefs about honor, sacrifice, and worth. Because sometimes the bravest thing a person can do is allow themselves to be truly seen.
Set against the backdrop of America’s 1876 centennial celebration, The Heart of Honor is a heartfelt historical romance about quiet courage, second chances, and a love strong enough to heal old wounds.
Courage built a nation. Love made it worth fighting for.
Throughout 250 years of American history, a well-loved locket finds its way into the hands of eight spirited heroines—each standing at the crossroads of love and destiny, and each inspired by a true patriot. As it journeys from one heart to the next, these stories unfold with sweet romance, unwavering hope, and a deep love of country, proving that even in uncertain times, love is always worth the risk. Start reading the Petticoats & Patriots series today!
Fake Dating for the Summer by Francesca Spencer
Midlife Meet Cute Beach Reads #4
Publication Date: July 22, 2026
Genre: Sweet Romantic Comedy
The trade? One fake date in exchange for help at the vet surgery.
The catch? No feelings allowed.
Adam:
Summer should be straightforward. Eat. Sleep. Surf. Repeat. Since retiring from pro football a few years back, this has been my life.
That all changes when I come to Rocky Point, and a ferocious hound eats my favorite hat. Apparently, the animal’s antisocial behavior is all my fault, according to Gail, the feisty yet alluring vet.
When I need a date, I panic and ask Gail. She begrudgingly agrees, but there are strings attached.
Gail:
I’m fake-dating an idiot. But it’s only for one night in return for doggy-walking duties and help at the surgery. I congratulate myself on getting the most from this deal.
As the days go by, I learn that Adam isn’t the dummy I thought he was. I like having him around. I like that he plays frisbee with Lola, even though she ate his hat.
But I need to squash these silly butterfly emotions – our transaction has an expiry date. Adam’s only here for the summer, which breaks my stupid heart.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Found Family
- A let’s-give-em-something-to-talk-about Kiss
- Small Surf Beach Town
- Later in Life Romcom
- Ex-Football Star
Add Fake Dating for the Summer to your poolside vacation reading stack.
Well, that’s it for the New Books Releasing Week 30 of 2026
Drop a comment if you like one of the books above or if you have one to recommend.
Thank you for stopping by,
Happy Reading!
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