The Baroness’ Choices of New Books Publishing This Week
2025, Week 32’s New Books
My choices for this week include Cozy Culinary Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Sweet Romantic Comedy, Cozy Culinary Paranormal Mystery, Sweet Sports Romance, Middle Grade Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Romantic Comedy, Paranormal Romantic Comedy, Cozy Crafts and Hobbies Paranormal Mystery, Cozy Paranormal Mystery, and Young Adult Fairy Tales and Folklore.
It’s the first whole week of August. Summer is ending, and back-to-school season is starting for some people. Are you staying cool if you are dealing with heat like I am down here? August is supposed to be the hottest. I keep telling myself that autumn is right around the corner.
I got another mix of new releases for you. Only one book is on my TBR list from this amazing group. Jen also has one book on her TBR. Yet, so many of them sound fantastic. If only I had more time.
Here are my choices for New Books Publishing Week 32 of 2025!
A Dish Best Served Dead by T.C. LoTempio
Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery #3
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
Genre: Cozy Culinary Mystery
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When a food convention turns fatal, Tiffany Austin will have to cook up a scheme to catch a killer . . .
The national Foodie Fest is in town and food blogger Tiffany Austin is thrilled to report on the event, even if it means crossing paths with an arrogant and annoying chef from her past. The man can’t help boasting of his success, but he also lets slip to Tiffany that he’s publishing a tell-all memoir that will be filled with scandalous secrets about many people in the food industry. It’s a risky career move, and maybe just plain risky, as Tiffany discovers later that day when she finds the chef’s dead body mere steps from the convention center.
With any number of reputations and careers at stake if the chef’s memoir were ever published, Tiffany realizes virtually everyone at the event is a suspect. Wending her way through the convention crowd in her guise as a reporter, she cautiously questions as many of the participants as she can, hoping to unearth a telling clue or a false alibi. Because while everyone has a skeleton or two in the closet, Tiffany knows someone at the food fest has a secret they’d kill to protect—and would kill for again if she gets too close to the truth . . .
Includes scrumptious Foodie Fest recipes!
For Duck’s Sake by Donna Andrews
Meg Langslow Mysteries #37
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
Genre: Cozy Mystery
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Donna Andrews returns with her latest charming addition to the bestselling Meg Langslow mystery series.
Meg is in the backyard of the house her brother Rob, Delaney, and their new baby have moved into, supervising some workmen who are using a bulldozer to start digging out a duck pond. She wants to get away from her own house, which has become the staging site for Caerphilly’s first Mutt March, which will be held the next day. Meg thinks it will be more peaceful at Rob’s house–and it is until the bulldozers uncover a skeleton whose skull has a hole and a bullet rattling around inside.Meanwhile, Chief Burke begins searching the police records to see if he can identify any missing persons who would fit the bill. He doesn’t turn down Meg’s offer to help with his identification efforts, and she begins looking in the library and talking to old-timers. She’s all the more eager to help because Iris Rafferty, who sold the house to Rob and Delaney and still lives in the mother-in-law suite, disappears the morning after the finding of the body… does her disappearance have anything to do with finding the body? Was it voluntary? Or was she kidnapped–possibly by the prowlers who are spotted lurking around the half-finished duck pond at night? Or do the prowlers have sinister designs on one or more of the dogs who will be marching in the parade?
Written with her classic cozy and investigative style, Donna Andrews is sure to delight in the latest in her Meg Langslow mystery series.
If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
Genre: Sweet Romantic Comedy
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In this grumpy-sunshine romance, school nurse Josie and her brother’s best friend–hockey player Wyatt Jacobs–are tricked into spending a summer together that’s anything but smooth sailing.
When Josie’s brother sends her to a random address for their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she finds neither siblings nor extravaganzas. Instead, ends up at a run-down cottage on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by a hockey player she knows and loathes.
A hockey player who isn’t just one of her sports agent brother’s clients. He’s also his best friend. And Josie’s sworn enemy.
Oh–and her brother wants Josie to help Wyatt recover from his injury.
Dragging grumpy hockey players to physical therapy is a far cry from bandaging skinned knees, but for the price her brother offers to pay, Josie is willing to try.
Even if it means sharing what she dubs the quaint little murder cottage with Wyatt.
Begrudgingly, Josie starts to see a little more of the man behind the grumpy exterior. And when she finds out he was supposed to sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah scattering his uncle’s ashes, Josie surprises even herself by offering to be Wyatt’s first mate.
Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Josie begins to wonder if they’ll be able to make it home without killing–or kissing?–each other.
And yet, the longer they share cramped quarters and canned food, the more of Wyatt’s layers she peels back until Josie realizes she misunderstood him, their shared history, and perhaps herself as well.
If you’re a fan of closed-door romance with sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud banter, and relatable characters, this romance with enemies-to-lovers vibes is your perfect escape. Dive into the irresistible story of Wyatt and Josie as they navigate the rocky waters of their past, uncover hidden depths, and discover that sometimes love is found in the most unexpected places. With the delightful grumpy-sunshine dynamic and the swoon-worthy he-falls-first trope, If All Else Sails by USA TODAY bestselling author Emma St. Clair will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
Shofar, So Good by Aliza Levine
Cafe Arcana Mysteries #2
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
Genre: Cozy Culinary Paranormal Mystery
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Nothing ruins small-town football like murder at halftime.
Ava Goldberg thought she had her hands full running Cafe Arcana and keeping her tarot business afloat. But when the high school football commentator is murdered in the press box at halftime—right in the middle of the homecoming game—Shiloh is thrown into chaos.
Unfortunately for Ava, two of the main suspects are way too close for comfort:
Her ex-husband.
And the guy she’s maybe-sort-of dating.The last thing she wants is to get involved. But when small-town gossip turns into full-blown scandal, Ava knows she has to step in—before someone else gets hurt and her new life unravels faster than a crocheted yarmulke.
Between navigating awkward Rosh Hashanah dinners, second-guessing her love life, and tracking down a killer, Ava’s holiday season is about to get a little more meshugge—and whole lot deadlier.
The second book in the Cafe Arcana Mystery series, Shofar, So Good is perfect for fans of cozy coffee shops, Jewish holidays, and small-town whodunnits with a mystical twist.
Buy Shofar, So Good today and discover why murder never takes a holiday.
Shot on Goal at a Second Chance by Dineen Miller
Midlife Meet Cute #6
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
Genre: Sweet Sports Romance
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Turns out buying a hockey team comes with a roster full of surprises—including my ex.
Hockey has always been part of my life. How could it not when my father was one of the most renowned players in the game? I even fell for a hockey player once. Needless to say, I won’t make that mistake again.
Except he’s suddenly back in my life. I just purchased a team, and guess who covers them for the network?
Would it have been a dealbreaker if I’d known I’d have to see him on the regular? Probably not. I didn’t sacrifice my dream for him years ago, and I won’t now either.
But my heart is falling faster this time around and somehow, being a one-woman-show isn’t as much fun as it used to be.
Should I give this thing between us a second chance? Or let our attempted shot on goal remain a thing of the past?
Shot on Goal at a Second Chance is a closed door romantic comedy brimming with undeniable chemistry and the promise of a happy ending. If you enjoy charming silver foxes, sophisticated women, and playful dialogue, you’re sure to fall in love with this enchanting novella.
The Dire Deeds of Doctor Gargo by Steve Behling
Mummy Man and Waffles #2
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
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In this spooky, goofy middle grade series, Mummy Man and Waffles are back in their action-packed sequel! So, what does a kid named Waffles, his mummy sidekick, and their trusty turtle Frank do for the summer? They hit the road, of course!
Traveling from Shriekport, Maine, the gang heads to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, California, picking up some hair-raising new friends along the way. Get in, Medusa!! The friends set off to confront the evil villain, Doctor Gargo, who has unleashed reanimated monsters from Grandpa’s basement throughout the country. Along their journey, they encounter a terrifying series of monsters, including the Hoboken Werewolf, a tornado with a face, and even a giant Space Blob! When they ultimately discover what Doctor Gargo is really after, it’s up to Waffles to make a difficult decision that could change everything.
WARNING: this book will make you realize your summer vacations seriously need some supernatural upgrades!
Now available in a lower-priced hardcover edition!
The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
Genre: Historical Fantasy
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*AN INDIE NEXT LIST PICK * A LIBRARY READS PICK *
The beloved author of Holes presents his first adult novel, a modern fantasy classic of forbidden love, a crumbling kingdom, and the unexpected magic all around us.
Long ago and far away (and somewhere south of France) lies the kingdom of Esquaveta. There, Princess Tullia is in nearly as much peril as her struggling kingdom. Esquaveta desperately needs to forge an alliance, and to that end, Tullia’s father has arranged a marriage between her and an odious prince. However, one month before the “wedding of the century,” Tullia falls in love with a lowly apprentice scribe.
The king turns to Anatole, his much-maligned magician. Seventeen years earlier, when Anatole first came to the castle, he was regarded as something of a prodigy. But after a long series of failures—the latest being an attempt to transform sand into gold—he has become the object of contempt and ridicule. The only one who still believes in him is the princess.
When the king orders Anatole to brew a potion that will ensure Tullia agrees to the wedding, Anatole is faced with an impossible choice. With one chance to save the marriage, the kingdom, and, of most importance to him, his reputation, will he betray the princess—or risk ruin?
Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
Genre: Romantic Comedy
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An utterly delightful and sexy second-chance romance between a black cat and golden retriever with Mazey Edding’s signature sparkling voice!
Eva Kitt never expected to be the host of Sausage Talk, interviewing B-list celebrities over wieners, instead of pursuing the journalism career she dreamed of. When Eva publicly calls out her college ex for ghosting her, her video goes viral. It doesn’t help said ex is Rylie Cooper, a beloved social media personality that has built a platform on deconstructing toxic masculinity and teaching men how to be decent partners.Now, she’s forced to confront Rylie on a live episode of Sausage Talk, where Rylie makes her a deal: allow him to take her on a series of dates to make up for his toxic behavior, then debrief them all on his channel. Eva refuses to play nice, but agrees to the deal to further her own career and continue defaming Rylie’s good name. But when these manufactured dates start to feel real, Eva has to wonder if the boy that broke her heart has become the man that might heal it.
Zomromcom by Olivia Dade
Supernatural Entanglements #1
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Comedy
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Teaming up with your neighbor during a zombie outbreak is a no-brainer, but if it turns out he’s a vampire . . . the stakes couldn’t be higher, in this infectious new paranormal romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Spoiler Alert.
When Edie Brandstrup attempts to save her sweet, seemingly harmless human neighbor from the first major zombie breach in two decades, she’s stunned to be saved by him—and his ridiculously large sword—instead. As it turns out, he’s actually a super-old, super-surly vampire. But for all her neighbor’s newly revealed cynicism and lethality, Gaston “Max” Boucher (yes, Gaston) is unexpectedly protective. He wants her to stay in his safety bunker until the breach is resolved. Edie can’t risk more innocent people getting killed, though—and Max won’t let her save them alone.
As they unravel a sinister conspiracy to set zombies loose on the world (again), the duo meet a host of lovable allies and discover they’re not the only ones willing to fight for the future of humanity. Despite the awful timing, Edie finds herself falling for the vampire who’s helping her save the world . . . but all their dangerous plans could end their future before it even begins. As she and Max battle side by side, Edie must decide whether having a love worth living for also means having a love you’d die for—and, in a world that grows deadlier by the minute, whether that’s a risk she’s willing to take.
Pleats and Poison by Lucinda Race
Dress Designer Cozy Mystery #3
Publication Date: August 6, 2025
Genre: Cozy Crafts and Hobbies Paranormal Mystery
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Enjoy this humorous, small-town, psychic, cozy mystery by best-selling and award-winning Lucinda Race.
A fashion-savvy psychic, one haunted Thanksgiving, and a pleated skirt that’s dressed to kill.
Hosting Thanksgiving dinner for seven guests—and one ghost—is all in a day’s work for Claudia Grant. Between whipping up her famous mac and cheese and debuting her boutique’s latest fall fashion, Claudia’s ready to impress her visiting mom and stylish grandmother. Her cozy coastal town of Drakes Bay is the perfect backdrop for family, food, and fresh starts—especially when Gram falls in love with a pleated skirt and sweater ensemble from Claudia’s shop.
But when a spilled glass of orange juice leads to a shocking discovery—a guest at the neighboring Whistlers Inn is found dead, and the very same pleated skirt wrapped around her neck—Claudia’s holiday cheer unravels fast.
Now, with her best friend Beth and a ghostly sidekick in tow, Claudia must piece together a tangled mystery before the killer skips town… and before the secrets hidden in the folds come back to haunt them all.
She’d rather be sewing hemlines than following clues—but if Claudia can’t stitch together the truth in time, someone else might be the next to check out… permanently.
Pleats & Poison is the third book in the A Dress Designer Cozy Mystery series from award-winning author Lucinda Race. Cozy up, settle in, and prepare to be haunted… in the best possible way!
A Tomb with a View by Maggie March
Grumpy Ghost Mystery #3
Publication Date: August 7, 2025
Genre: Cozy Paranormal Mystery
She sees dead people. He is dead people. And their canine companion has a few secrets of her own. Together, they’re Lockwood Cove’s most dysfunctional detective trio!
Most roommates squabble over dirty dishes and unpaid bills. Anna McGuffin wishes that were her biggest problem. Instead, she spends her days trading barbs with Richard Lockwood, the infuriatingly handsome (and thoroughly dead) Victorian detective haunting her Florida rental, while their adorable ghost dachshund, Daisy, referees from the sidelines. All Anna wants is to finish her Regency romance novel, but her writing plans are derailed when local medium Madame Corrine acquires an antique locket harboring something far more sinister than sentimental memories.
Anna and Richard’s mission to retrieve the locket hits a snag when a body is discovered sprawled against Richard’s grave, with the locket nowhere to be found. As mysterious disturbances ripple through Lockwood Cove and a paranormal investigative TV crew stirs up trouble, Anna finds her feelings for her grumpy roommate growing more complicated by the day.
With the walls between life and death thinning, Anna and Richard must solve the murder and recover the locket before the vengeful spirit trapped inside breaks free–and transforms their quaint town into a supernatural battleground.
Escaping Pirates by Mary Mecham
Legends of Neverland #4
Publication Date: August 8, 2025
Genre: Young Adult Fairy Tales and Folklore
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Navigating treacherous seas is perilous, but navigating love is even more dangerous.
When Elena’s merchant ship is attacked by ruthless pirates, she is torn from her life and imprisoned aboard the Kraken’s Revenge. Forced to serve the captain’s cruel daughters, Elena’s dream of escape fades like the distant shore. Survival means obeying orders without question, but the fire in her heart refuses to be extinguished.
Everything changes when a new prisoner is thrown into the brig—a dashing sailor named Harlan, whose defiance matches Elena’s own. Their connection is immediate, but the captain’s daughters are just as captivated by Harlan’s charm. As a forbidden romance kindles in the darkness of their confinement, Elena dares to dream of freedom once more.
But danger looms when another pirate with sinister intentions wants to buy Elena. Now burdened with a secret that could change the course of history, Elena must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect Harlan and herself.
As she navigates the treacherous waters of betrayal and desire, Elena must choose between the liberty she craves and the love she cannot deny.
Escaping Pirates is the fourth book in the Legends of Neverland series and it is recommended to read the other three prior to this book for maximum enjoyment. If you enjoy pirate adventures, fairytale retellings, and no spice fantasy romance, dive into Escaping Pirates today!
Well, that’s it for the New Books Releasing Week 32 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!
Baroness’ Book Trove is an Amazon affiliate, meaning that if you click the link and purchase something, this blog gets a tiny percentage back. Mainly, this helps with the cost of the website and a few giveaways.
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