The Baroness’ Choices of New Books Publishing This Week
2025, Week 31’s New Books
My choices for this week include Cozy Culinary Paranormal Mysteries, Sweet Cowboy Romances, Young Adult Romantic Fantasies, Paranormal Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Cozy Culinary Mysteries, Cozy Mystery, Cozy Animal Mystery, Middle Grade Fantasies, Sweet Romances, and Young Adult Fairy Tales and Folklore.
It’s the last week of July! That means that summer is almost over, and the kiddos head back to school. Are you ready for that? It seems like it was just spring, well, except for the heat. But no complaints here. I wish it would slow down a bit.
We have a long list of books this week. There is everything from kidlit to mysteries to romances. Jen and I both have some on our TBR lists. Man, those lists are getting long. Thanks to the many fantastic authors who continue to write excellent books.
Here are my choices for New Books Publishing Week 31 of 2025!
Wands, Waffles, and Whispers by Tonya Kappes
Southern Magical Bakery #2
Publication Date: July 27, 2025
Genre: Cozy Culinary Paranormal Mystery
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Every small town hides a secret. This one has a few dozen… and a magical cat who knows them all.
After leaving her enchanted hometown behind, Lo Heal-Park thought she’d finally found a quiet life in Celestial Falls—complete with a charming bakery, a suspiciously talkative cat, and a second date with the local vet. But when a beloved town elder is found dead under mysterious circumstances and strange magical pulses begin rippling through the streets, Lo’s hopes for a fresh start vanish like sugar on a hot skillet.
Now, with her unexpected spiritual gifts waking up and a magical crack in the town’s foundation threatening to burst wide open, Lo has to sift through secrets, seal old spells, and figure out who—or what—is stirring ancient magic from its slumber. All without burning the biscuits.
Warm, witty, and just a little wicked, Wands, Waffles & Whispers is the delicious first course in a new cozy mystery series perfect for fans of spellbinding small towns, cinnamon-sweet suspense, and heroines who stir up more than just batter.
Because in Celestial Falls, even the magic has a sweet tooth… and it’s hungry.
A Family for the Cowboy Cop by Tanya Agler
Violet Ridge #3
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Sweet Cowboy Romance
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To catch a thief
Or to capture a heart?Denver detective Jase Virtue has one assignment: return to his hometown of Violet Ridge, catch an escaped bank robber, go back to Denver. Staying at Cassie O’Neal’s farm isn’t part of the plan. But the single mom and her two young children need protection—even if she is the robber’s half sister and suspected accomplice. Bonding with the O’Neals, and a sweet little hen, has Jase wondering if he can truly trust Cassie. Because she makes him long for the home and happily-ever-after he never thought he deserved.
A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid
Study in Drowning #2
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Young Adult Romantic Fantasy
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Return to the immersive, lush, and dreamlike world of the instantly bestselling dark academia fantasy A Study in Drowning as the aftermath of their first discovery pulls Effy and Preston on a final adventure and brings their haunting love story to its end in this stunning sequel and final book in the duology. This collector’s edition features stunning foil case design, antique-style endpapers, filigree cover, and gorgeous designed edges.
All stories come to an end.
Effy learned that when she defeated the Fairy King. Even though she may never know exactly what happened at Hiraeth, she is free of her nightmares and is able to pen a thesis with Preston on the beloved national fairytale Angharad. She has finally earned a spot at the literature college, making her the first woman in history to enroll.
But some dreams are dangerous, especially when they come true. The entire university—and soon the entire nation—is waiting for her to fail. With the Fairy King defeated and Myrddin’s legacy exposed, Effy can no longer escape into fantasy. Who is she without her stories?
With Effy under threat, Preston is surprised to discover a rage simmering inside him, ringing in his ears like bells. He begins to dream of a palace under the sea, a world where he is king—visions that start to follow him even in waking.
As the war between Llyr and Argant explodes, Effy and Preston find themselves caught in the crossfire: Effy losing her dreams and Preston losing himself in his.
Are dreams ever truly just dreams?
Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Paranormal Suspense
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When a mysterious figure shows up in the photograph an architect takes of the derelict Seabrink Hotel, ghostly encounters and murder are unleashed.
Aubrey Spencer loves photographing classic old buildings and abandoned places that hold old secrets. The Hotel Seabrink, perched overlooking the sea, is one such place. Currently abandoned but scheduled for a major renovation, it has a torrid history. Back in the 1920s it hosted A-list celebrity clientele, and now the locals insist it is haunted by the ghosts of two young women who died there. When Aubrey goes to photograph the site before the renovation begins, she bumps into a man named Dimitri Petroff, a minor online celebrity who shares her fascination with old buildings, the Hotel Seabrink in particular.
When he is found dead the next day at the base of a cliff, the police are quick to close the investigation. But Aubrey feels unsettled by locals who claim he was murdered and that it’s not the first time someone interested in the hotel was killed. As she digs deeper into the property’s dark history (and its origins as an asylum) as well as Dimitri’s professional rivalries, she becomes mired in an unsolved murder case from several decades earlier, one with eerie parallels to the contemporary case. But someone is determined to keep her from discovering the truth—at any cost.
Country Fair Cowboy by Melinda Curtis
Cowboy Academy #8
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Sweet Cowboy Romance
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Will they win a blue ribbon…
For falling in love?Dr. Wylie Newland loves being a vet, loves cheery Clementine, Oklahoma, but his crush on Dr. Hazel Hughes is a problem. The new resident has made it clear she’s a city girl at heart and won’t be staying. Working hand in hand at the fair is bringing them closer…and, hopefully, winning her over. Sure, Hazel is beginning to see that Wylie is pretty great, but he’s also stuck in many regards. With Hazel showing him new ways to look at the world, and Wylie showing her that settling down isn’t settling for less, could they take first prize for romance?
Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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In this modern retelling of Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, a K-drama actress gets her second chance at love with the man she left to save her family, if only she can work up the courage to risk her heart on forever…one last time.
For ten years, Anne Lee told herself that Frederick Nam was her past. To save her father from bankruptcy, she dropped out of UC San Diego to pursue an acting career in Korea. Anne had to stop Frederick from following her and ruining his future. Breaking up with him was the best way she could love him.
After Anne left him, Frederick spent years loving her, missing her, and hating her until he decided to live his life for himself. He followed his dream and became a firefighter in Culver City. He didn’t need romance. He had his work and his friends.
When she returns to Los Angeles, Anne and Frederick find themselves in the same wedding―she as her cousin’s bridesmaid and he as his friend’s groomsman. Even though he is cold and distant with her, Anne can no longer deny that she never got over him. Not even close. As for Frederick, needing to take care of Anne is a habit he can’t seem to kick, but that doesn’t mean he has to forgive her.
Icing on the Murder by Valerie Burns
Baker Street Mysteries #4
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Cozy Culinary Animal Mystery
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From Agatha and Edgar Award nominated author Valerie Burns, influencer-turned-bakery-owner Maddy Montgomery has sold plenty of wedding cakes before, but before she turns one out for her and her fiancé’s wedding, she’ll have to solve a little case of murder first…
Aunt Octavia would be so proud! Maddy has turned Baby Cakes Bakery—named for her 250-pound English Mastiff, Baby—into a runaway success, and she’s marrying the love of her life, veterinarian Michael Portman. #DreamWedding! Plus the timing couldn’t be better: the country’s biggest bridal expo has come to New Bison, Michigan, and Maddy has secured a spot for Baby Cakes to showcase their cakes. She’s also entered a contest for an all-expenses-paid wedding extravaganza offered by world-renowned wedding planner Serafina.
Unfortunately, supremely nasty Serafina truly takes the cake—she makes the worst bridezilla seem like a shy flower girl. But there’s one thing the wedding planner didn’t plan on—being impaled by one of the skewers Baby Cakes uses on their tiered wedding cakes.
While Maid of Honor Sheriff April Johnson rounds up suspects at the expo, Maddy and her aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars, and even Baby join forces to unveil a killer hiding in plain sight . . . before wedding bells start to chime.
Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku
Savvy Summers Mysteries #1
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Cozy Culinary Mystery
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A sparkling debut mystery set on the South Side of Chicago, featuring the quick-witted, unforgettable Savvy Summers, proprietor of a soul food café.
When Savvy Summers first opened Essie’s soul food café, she never expected her customer-favorite sweet potato pie to become the center of a murder investigation. But when Grandy Jaspers, the 75-year-old neighborhood womanizer, drops dead at table two, she suddenly has more to worry about than just maintaining Essie’s reputation for the finest soul food in the Chicagoland area.
Even as the police deem Grandy’s death an accident, Savvy quickly finds herself―and her beloved café―in the middle of an entire city’s worth of bad press. Desperate to clear her name and keep her business afloat, Savvy and her snooping assistant manager, Penny Lopés, take it upon themselves to find who really killed Grandy.
But with a slimy investor harassing her to sell her name and business, customers avoiding her sweet potato pie like the plague, and her police sergeant ex-husband suddenly back in the picture, will Savvy be able to clear the café’s name and solve Grandy’s murder before it all falls apart?
After all, while Savvy always said her sweet potato pie was to die for, she never meant literally.
Seven Secret Spellcasters by Lynn Cahoon
Kitchen Witch Mysteries #7
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Cozy Culinary Paranormal Mystery
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Everyone’s favorite kitchen witch is back in this new cozy mystery from New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon. As Mia prepares for her transfer of powers on Halloween Eve, a murder implicates her boyfriend and his familiar . . .
Besides her witch’s training, Mia has a lot on her plate with her catering business and cooking school in the Idaho town of Magic Springs. As All Hallows Eve approaches, Mia has almost completed her apprenticeship with Grans and must decide if she will join the coven. At the same time, her boyfriend Trent’s familiar, Cerby—an adorable Maltese whose powers are far greater than his six-pound fluffy body might suggest—has flunked out of hellhound training at the werewolf camp. Something about a dragon?
What’s more, the National Office of Magical Creatures has sent an investigator to check out suspicions regarding Trent and Cerby. But when the investigator is found floating dead in the river behind Trent’s cabin with Cerby’s paw prints nearby, Mia’s boyfriend and his furry friend become murder suspects. Now she’ll have to use her own powers of investigation to save them both . . .
Solid Gold Murder by Ellen Byron
Golden Motel Mysteries #2
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Cozy Mystery
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Dee Stern’s Golden Motel-of-the-Mountains promises a tranquil getaway for outdoor lovers in the scenic Californian village of Foundgold. But when Dee accidentally triggers a modern gold rush, she suddenly turns her peaceful retreat into a hotspot for mayhem and murder . . .
With the summer season looming, former Hollywood sitcom writer Dee Stern has one small goal—scrubbing her motel’s unflattering moniker as the “Murder Motel.” Dee and ex-husband-turned-business-partner Jeff Cornetta are excited to introduce a family-friendly panning activity complete with fool’s gold just in time for the peak tourist months. Except neither could have anticipated the discovery of a real gold nugget or the ensuing social media frenzy. In a flash, the viral sensation draws grizzled prospectors, wide-eyed adventurers, and trend-chasing thrill seekers to the abandoned mines scattered around the woods . . .
The instant popularity proves great for business, but it also attracts a group of out-of-touch Silicon Valley techies with dreams of striking it rich—again. Dee finds herself particularly annoyed by the insufferably smug Sylvan Burr, a retired CEO who sold his startup before age 30 and won’t let anyone forget it. But things take a sinister turn when Sylvan meets a grim fate at the bottom of a mineshaft, leaving Dee at the center of a deadly mystery that could end her days as a motelier. And while Sylvan had plenty of enemies, Dee suddenly faces adversaries rooting against her own success. Now, with her life and the future of the Golden Motel hanging by a thread, Dee must unearth a minefield of suspects and outwit a greedy killer before she finally digs herself too deep . . .
Something Whiskered by Miranda James
Cat in the Stacks Mysteries #17
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Cozy Animal Mystery
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A dead baron, an Irish castle, and an unexpected ghost . . . Charlie Harris, Helen Louise Brady, and their feline friend Diesel find themselves hot on the trail of a conniving killer in this delightful Cat in the Stacks Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Miranda James.
Charlie Harris and his wife, Helen Louise Brady, have arrived in Ireland for their honeymoon. After a few days in Dublin, they head to County Clare, ancestral home to Helen Louise’s extended family, the O’Bradys. Her cousin Lorcan runs Castle O’Brady as a bed-and-breakfast with his wife Caoimhe and their daughter and son-in-law. But upon arrival at the castle, the newlyweds are shocked to see a body falling from the roof.
The dead man is centenarian Finn, Baron O’Brady, Lorcan’s grandfather, which means that Lorcan now becomes the new Baron O’Brady. Was someone in a hurry for Lorcan to assume the title and ownership of the estate? Or is there another reason for wanting Finn dead? And why is a ghostly cat making an appearance in their room-is he trying to warn them? Charlie and Helen Louise must answer these questions and more as they realize the local garda can’t solve the crime alone. And along with Diesel they will have to investigate themselves or risk something wicked coming their way…
Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes
Soul of Shadow #1
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Young Adult Romantic Fantasy
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Preorder now and receive the stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION while supplies last―featuring purple stained edges, a unique foiled case stamp, and beautiful designed endpapers. This breathtaking collectible is only available on a limited first print run, a must-have for any book lover.
Hearts will shatter in this thrilling romantasy for fans of The Vampire Diaries and Heartless Hunter where love, magic, gods, and monsters collide.
Charlie Hudson is just trying to survive junior year, navigating the halls of school and the chaos of parties like a ghost. But her world is about to become seriously transformed―like world shifting altered―when a classmate mysteriously disappears into the forest, leaving only a pair of shoes and strange symbols carved into a tree.
Drawn to the disappearances by forces she can’t explain, she finds herself investigating the mysterious, alluring newcomer in town, Elias Everhart. With piercing eyes and sharp wit, he dances around her questions, only intriguing her further. Elias has a secret. More than one.
But what Charlie doesn’t know is that those secrets will lead her to a place she never imagined: a world hiding in plain sight, filled with enchantments, mythic beings, hidden dangers―and a first love fated to fall apart.
In Emma Noyes’s Soul of Shadow, truths and temptations lurk in the darkness, and for Charlie, the only thing more dangerous than facing her past, is the boy made of shadow with the power to change her future.
Tea with Jam and Dread by Vicki Delany
Tea by the Sea Mysteries #6
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Cozy Culinary Mystery
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Cape Cod tearoom owner Lily Roberts leaves New England for old England to attend a party for an aristocratic centenarian—but what goes on there is anything but noble . . .
Long ago, Lily’s grandmother Rose worked as a kitchen maid at Thornecroft Castle, and now Elizabeth, dowager countess of Frockmorton, is celebrating her one hundredth birthday. Rose still has fond feelings for her onetime employer, so a group trip to Yorkshire is planned. It’s also an opportunity for Lily to visit her boyfriend, who’s currently working in England—and to indulge in some British tea.
Much has changed, however, and the ancestral home is now a luxury hotel, which will be closed for a week to accommodate the big bash, much to the chagrin of Elizabeth’s grandson, Julien—leading Lily to overhear an argument among the younger generation about the fate of the family fortune. Little do they know that Elizabeth plans to sell the famous Frockmorton Sapphires out of the family for the first time in centuries . . .
The icing on the cake comes when the jewels suddenly vanish—and things really go nuts when a party guest dies from an allergic reaction to almonds that someone smuggled into Lily’s coronation chicken sandwiches. Now she’ll have to scour the property to find out who would commit murder in such a manor . . .
The Guardian’s Quest by Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell
Magic Paintbrush #2
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
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In the second book of this epic fantasy series, eleven year old Amy’s malfunctioning paintbrush accidentally paints a portal to a mythical world! But when she discovers that the paintbrush is running out of power, Amy must undergo a Trial to prove her worth as the guardian of the magic paintbrush.
Ever since she became the guardian of the magic paintbrush, Amy has been nonstop painting. But when her paintbrush starts glitching, Amy accidentally paints a portal to a strange, magical world filled with creatures of Chinese folktales!
A mysterious cat from the portal leads Amy and her friends Diego and Luna to Minli, who presents herself as the creator of the paintbrush, and her magical forest. The magic paintbrush’s power is dwindling. Amy has two weeks to complete a Trial, a series of three tests to prove she is worthy to be the paintbrush’s guardian.
Amy’s quest will take her to mystical places. She’ll have help from Diego, Luna and the secretive Cat who may be a friend or foe. Amy and her friends must face dangerous threats, perilous landscapes, and the ever-looming feeling that everything might not be what it seems….
Award-winning author Kat Zhang teams up with Eric Darnell, the writer and director of the Madagascar series and the Chief Creative Officer of Baobab Studios on this story about responsibility, the power of friendship, and what it means to be worthy.
The Haunting of Bellington Cottage by Laura Parnum
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
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From the author of Peril at Price Manor comes a new spooky and bighearted stand-alone novel about two girls trying to figure out if they’re still friends who discover their vacation rental home is haunted.
It was the perfect winter break getaway . . . until the ghost showed up.
The last time Iris’s and Violet’s families went on a trip together, the girls turned their rental home into an epic haunted house—and Iris has brought all her spookiest supplies to the cottage they’re calling home for the next week, ready to re-create the magic they’d shared. But in the years since, Vee (don’t call her Violet) has become closed off and short-tempered and wants nothing to do with anyone, especially not her mom’s new boyfriend.
Vee’s bad mood feels inescapable in the cottage. And soon strange things are happening that make it seem like the house itself is angry, too—doors are slamming, rooms that were perfectly neat a second ago are suddenly a disaster, and Iris hears pacing footsteps long after everyone’s gone to sleep. Iris and Vee soon discover that the cottage has a secret history and that there’s no need to stage a haunted house after all . . . because they’re already in one.
The Single Dad’s Promise by Anna J. Stewart
Hawaiian Reunions #5
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Sweet Romance
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Could a single dad and daughter
Be her unexpected future?A Hawaiian vacation is just what police officer and single dad Silas Garwood needs, but five-year-old Freya is more anxious than excited about their holiday. Until she sees Jana Powell swimming in the moonlight and becomes convinced the ethereal beauty is a mermaid. Suddenly Freya is on board for a magical adventure, and the trip is looking sunnier for Silas, too. Jana is drawn to the strong, capable man who clearly adores his little girl. But due to a recent illness, a ready-made family hasn’t been in her plans. Will she give up her peaceful life for the chaos of an instant family?
The Summer I Stayed by Bella Greene
Midlife Meet Cute #5
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Sweet Romance
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I came to fix up a house, not fall for my next door neighbor.
Renovating my late husband’s lake house was meant to be a project. A distraction. A way to figure out my next step now that my kids are grown.
What I didn’t expect? Jake Hollis.
Local handyman. Town fixer. And the man I accidentally attacked with a flying board. Oops.
He’s quiet, rugged, and way too tempting for a man who only communicates in nods and smirks.
He’s steady where I’m scattered, thoughtful where I’m impulsive.
And the way he looks at me? Let’s just say, it’s been a long time since anyone’s looked at me like that.
This summer was supposed to be temporary…but what if Blue Alder Cove—and Jake—feel like home?
The Summer I Stayed is a small town, later in life, clean romantic comedy. It only contains sweet kisses and is free from profanity. It promises a satisfying conclusion (no cliffhangers) and a heartwarming happily ever after.
The Veterinarian’s Perfect Match by Jennifer Brown
Haw Springs #2
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Sweet Cowboy Romance
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He’s earning her trust
And stealing her heart!Gracie Langhorst will do anything to protect her grandmother Vera—especially from opportunists trying to wheedle their way into the dying woman’s will. That must be David McBride’s motivation. Why else would the busy veterinarian spend his lunch hours caring for Vera’s barnyard menagerie? But David won’t be scared away, even by a shotgun. Facing off with Gracie is adding some spice to his all-work, no-play life. And she may just be his perfect match. If he can convince the fierce beauty to lower her guard and let love in…
Fit For A Prince by Abigail Manning
Fit For A Crown #1
Publication Date: August 1, 2025
Genre: Young Adult Fairy Tales and Folklore
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The prince is dead.
Diaspro Onelle would have made an excellent princess, if her betrothed hadn’t died in front of her. On a fateful night in the kingdom of Ivalon, Diaspro’s entire world burns as the king of Aemastia destroys everything in sight. Before she can escape, she’s taken captive and locked away…until another fateful day arrives, and she’s summoned before the enemy king. Intrigued by Diaspro’s previous betrothal, King Septimus decides that any woman fit for Ivalon’s perfect prince must surely be suitable for one of his sons.
Diaspro is suddenly thrust out of her prison cell and into the role of prospective princess. With only a few months to charm a prince, Diaspro doesn’t have much hope that she can capture the heart of a man who already despises her. She would rather die than marry an Aemastian blue-blood, but that’s exactly what will happen if she can’t convince one of the three brothers to propose.
Dying is easy, but surviving long enough to enact revenge is the kind of challenge Diaspro can’t ignore. Marrying the enemy would allow her to save her people, but can she win a prince so soon after losing her own? She’ll have to tread carefully or else they might find out how she was chosen by royalty the first time…
Fit For A Prince is book one of a three part, no-spice, fantasy romance series, featuring a swoony must-choose romance, arranged marriage, prisoner to princess, and impossibly high-stakes.
Well, that’s it for the New Books Releasing Week 31 of 2025
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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