The Baroness’ Choices of New Books Publishing This Week
2023, Week 40’s New Books
My choices for this week include Cozy Animal Mystery, Holiday Romance, Police Procedurals Mystery, Cozy Paranormal Mystery, YA Fairy Tale and Folklore Adaptation, NA Sports Romance, Cozy Crafts and Hobbies Holiday Mystery, and Cozy Mystery.
Can you believe that it’s already October?! Toward the end of this month, I will be here in Texas for a whole year already. It’s just mind boggling how time has flown.
A lot of new books are coming out this week. Jen will be reading the first one up on this list, and I have read one as well.
Here are my choices for New Books Publishing Week 40 of 2023!
The Fog Ladies: Date with Death by Susan McCormick
San Francisco Cozy Murder #4
Publication Date: October 2, 2023
Genre: Cozy Animal Mystery
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The Fog Ladies are at it again, spunky senior sleuths and an overstressed young medical resident solving murders from their elegant apartment building in San Francisco. They join a senior dating group, and romantic intrigue soon turns to murder. Graham Parselle, lady killer extraordinaire, plunges off a cliff on a Senior Singles outing. Did one of his dates pitch him over? Or is Olivia Honeycut’s new beau to blame?
Once Upon a Christmas Kiss by Christy Hayes
Publication Date: October 3, 2023
Genre: Holiday Romance
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You’re cordially invited to the charming town of Cherry Creek, Tennessee, where the legendary book—Once Upon a Christmas Kiss—promises true love to the one who possesses it during the holiday season.
Don’t miss this collection of unique, romantic novellas by six different authors about women who’ve been given the gift of romance. Featuring all your favorite tropes, such as: small town, Second-chance at love, emotionally scarred, opposites attract, friends-to-lovers, secrets, cute meet-cute, blind-to-love, enemies-to-lovers, and of course, a lot of classic Christmas charm.
Who knows, you might be the next to find Once Upon a Christmas Kiss in your stocking.
Included in this collection:
Once Upon a Christmas Reunion by Ciara Knight
Broken hearts reunite for a second chance at love on Christmas night.Once Upon a Christmas Treasure By Brenda Lowder
When Amelia enlists former best friend Oliver to help her hunt for a legendary book for her sister, she doesn’t know finding the treasure might mean losing her heart.Once Upon a Christmas Promise By Susan Carlisle
Two emotionally scarred hearts mend through the promise of love.Once Upon a Christmas Secret By Terra Weiss
To uncover the deepest secret of her late best friend, Dawson must volunteer for the holidays with her nemesis, Sawyer, and do good for the community… and maybe her heart too.Once Upon a Christmas Wish By Susan Sands
Star-crossed lovers reunite with the help of a little Christmas magic.Once Upon a Christmas Party By Christy Hayes
Two young millennials find love with the help of a Christmas legend, meddling grandparents, and a well-placed sprig of mistletoe.
One Last Kill by Robert Dugoni
Tracy Crosswhite #10
Publication Date: October 3, 2023
Genre: Police Procedurals Mystery
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An Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling series.
Detective Tracy Crosswhite draws a long-dormant serial killer out of hiding in a nerve-shattering novel by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.
Tracy Crosswhite is reopening the investigation into Seattle’s Route 99 serial killer. After thirteen victims, he stopped hunting and the trail went cold, stirring public outrage. Now, nearly three decades after his first kill, Tracy is expected to finally bring closure to the victims’ families and redeem the Seattle PD’s reputation. Even if it means working with her nemesis, Captain Johnny Nolasco.
Lead detective of the original task force, Nolasco dares Tracy to do what he failed to: close the case. Forming an uneasy alliance, Tracy and Nolasco revisit old leads and pursue new evidence only to unearth high-level corruption and cover-ups as dangerous as the elusive killer himself. At the risk of being exposed, such deadly and powerful forces will go to extremes to stay in the shadows.
That’s just where Tracy and Nolasco are headed―to find the twisted truth behind a killer’s motives, his disappearance, and his chilling comeback.
Overdue or Die by Allison Brook
Haunted Library Mysteries #7
Publication Date: October 3, 2023
Genre: Cozy Paranormal Mystery
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Carrie Singleton has a wedding to plan, a killer to catch, and a conspiracy to uncover in this charming seventh novel of Agatha Award-nominee Allison Brook’s Haunted Library mysteries.
Carrie Singleton has more than her fair share on her plate: her job at the Clover Ridge Library, preparing for her wedding to Dylan Avery, and hoping that the local art gallery doesn’t steal away one of her part-time employees. Her fiancé Dylan accompanies her to the beautiful home of Victor Zalinka—art collector and successful businessman—to select paintings for an art show at the library. While Carrie muses that Victor’s home would be the perfect wedding venue, Dylan spots a forgery among the paintings in Victor’s collection.
Then Martha Mallory is found murdered in her art gallery. With the assistance of Evelyn, the library ghost; the resident cat, Smoky Joe; and the office manager of Dylan’s private investigation company, Carrie comes up with a suspect list long enough to rival the size of an encyclopedia. During her investigation, Carrie stumbles across a terrible truth: Martha’s murder was part of something far bigger and more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. And it all leads back to the art gallery.
How far will Carrie go to find the killer and uncover the truth? If the killer finds her first—will Carrie finally be taken out of circulation?
Snowed In for Christmas by Jaqueline Snowe
Publication Date: October 3, 2023
Genre: Holiday Romance
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Fans of Christina Lauren and Maggie Knox will adore this fun and festive romcom featuring a grumpy/sunshine duo who find themselves stuck together over the holidays, where the weather outside is frightful—but inside, things are heating up in this sexy holiday story.
Sorority mom Becca Fairfield is used to guys not taking her seriously. She’s too blond, too quirky, or Just. Too. Much. So she’s ditched dating to focus on her job and a house filled with drama and plenty of tea. Now with the holidays and a major blizzard on her doorstep, Becca has everything she needs to survive the next two weeks on her own. Hot cocoa, plenty of books . . . and the memory of a steamy kiss with a certain sexy, grumposaurus next-door neighbor to keep her warm.
Only Becca’s seriously underestimated this Snowpocalypse. So when the power goes out and Harrison Cooper—football coach, master crank, and the guy who acted mega-awkward after said steamy kiss—offers her shelter, it only makes sense to accept. They’ll just be Blizzard Buddies. Hang out, stay safe, and maybe indulge in a little R-rated cuddling. Becca knows that Harrison isn’t the dating kind, and what happens during the storm lasts only as long as the storm. But are they keeping warm . . . or playing with fire?
To Betray a King by Annette K. Larsen
Shattered Tales #2
Publication Date: October 3, 2023
Genre: YA Fairy Tale and Folklore Adaptation
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A princess tasked with poisoning a stranger.
A handsome gentleman distracting her from her purpose.
Faelyn is a princess of Morwen, or at least she used to be. Forced to flee her kingdom, she’s dependent on her cousin, King Jeshua, to keep her and her family safe. But that safety comes at a price. She must act the part of a commoner in order to administer an unknown substance to one of the king’s enemies or else be handed over to the man who usurped her father’s throne.
As she tries to find her way into a house party where her victim is a guest, Faelyn meets Bram. She retrieves something precious to him and in exchange asks a favor: give her food and a place to stay. Though their meeting starts with manipulation, she can’t help but like Bram, and he takes an instant liking to her. But she can’t possibly entertain feelings for him, not when her freedom and her family are on the line—and not when she’s being forced to hurt his friend. But Bram is patient and earnest, and his constant help and kindness are impossible to resist.
It can’t last though, not when she’ll have to flee the moment she’s fulfilled her assignment, and not when Bram will hate her as soon as she does.
To Betray a King is a Frog Prince retelling. It is one of the twelve novellas in The Shattered Tales, a collection of fractured and mirrored retellings of your favorite fairy tales. The Shattered Tales can be enjoyed in any order, so fall in love with the sweet romance, magical adventures, and tale-shattering twists one shard at a time.
Wildfire by Hannah Grace
Maple Hills #2
Publication Date: October 3, 2023
Genre: NA Sports Romance
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Warning Adult Content
The latest in the TikTok sensation and deliciously “swoonworthy” (Elena Armas, New York Times bestselling author) Maple Hills series follows two summer camp counselors who reconnect after a sizzling one-night stand.
Maple Hills students Russ Callaghan and Aurora Roberts cross paths at a party celebrating the end of the academic year, where a drinking game results in them having a passionate one-night stand. Never one to overstay her welcome (or expect much from a man), Aurora slips away before Russ even has the chance to ask for her full name.
Imagine their surprise when they bump into each other on the first day of the summer camp where they are both counselors, hoping to escape their complicated home lives by spending the summer working. Russ hopes if he gets far enough away from Maple Hills, he can avoid dealing with the repercussions of his father’s gambling addiction, while Aurora is tired of craving attention from everyone around her, and wants to go back to the last place she truly felt at home.
Russ knows breaking the camp’s strict “no staff fraternizing” rule will have him heading back to Maple Hills before the summer is over, but unfortunately for him, Aurora has never been very good at caring about the rules. Will the two learn to peacefully coexist? Or did their one night together start a fire they can’t put out?
Joy to the Wool by Rebecca McKinnon
Clear Creek Mysteries #4
Publication Date: October 5, 2023
Genre: Cozy Crafts and Hobbies Holiday Mystery
All dressed up for the holidays, Clear Creek looks like it’s right out of a storybook. But the decorations aren’t just for fun. The tiny Rocky Mountain town is hosting a Christmas Festival sure to be used as a pattern for years.
While Jemma is busy with the Cozy Tree — a place visitors can buy hand-knitted hats and scarves to donate to people in need — Granny is busy taking bets on which day of the event Jemma will find a body. But to everyone’s surprise, this time Granny’s the one who makes the discovery!
Choosing to put her relationship with Brandon first, Jemma agrees to steer clear of the investigation. But Granny’s determination to solve the crime lands Jemma the impossible job of keeping the spunky old lady out of trouble, and breaking and entering is just the beginning of their adventure.
When the Cozy Tree is vandalized, it becomes obvious the pair is making someone nervous. Can Jemma and Granny knit up the investigation before Santa climbs in his sleigh?
Mabel and the Little Green Men by Susan Kimmel Wright
Mysteries of Medicine Spring #3
Publication Date: October 5, 2023
Genre: Cozy Animal Mystery
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The last thing Mabel needed was a flying saucer, not to mention a rash of similar sightings all over town. Her life’s already been upended by getting fired and moving to Grandma’s old house in Medicine Spring. So far, the deceptively sleepy village has delivered several murders—and romance with a handsome private investigator. Are little green men next?
While Mabel tries to get to the bottom of the apparent space invasion, she also gets herself caught between competing candidates for township supervisor. Small-town politics call for more diplomacy than she has—not to mention the ability to duck, run, and hide.
And unfortunately, her UFO investigation only raises more questions. Long-buried secrets surface, all tied to one night in 1958 and another seeming alien attack. But something more troublesome than any Martian invasion is on its way. A film crew descends, bent on producing a documentary on the historic UFO crash. Hordes of tourists follow, all infected with flying saucer fever. When an all-too-human body turns up at the alleged alien gravesite in a local cemetery, Mabel realizes murder is bound to follow her, whether of this world or not.
Spectral Revelations by Ellen Butler
Karina Cardinal Mystery #6
Publication Date: October 5, 2023
Genre: Cozy Mystery
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Is Karina’s missing aunt on vacation…or on the lam?
Karina is trying to keep her mind on getting a cosponsor for a bill, but it’s tough with her Mom blowing up her phone. By the time Karina finally stops hitting “ignore”, Mom is frantic. It appears Karina’s Aunt Vera has disappeared, fibbed to her employer about the reason for her absence, even abandoned her beloved cat, Nightshade—which is completely out of character. Karina would bet her favorite pair of designer shoes that Vera is in some kind of trouble.
However, when Karina hauls her cookies from D.C. to historic Williamsburg to search Vera’s house, she finds nothing suspicious. Except for a mischievous Civil War ghost who scares the bejesus out of her and keeps trashing Vera’s office. Until Karina realizes his seemingly random ectoplasmic tantrums have a purpose—revealing key evidence.
Something is definitely fishy, but the clues aren’t adding up. And as the spirit’s visitations become more urgent, Karina calls on reinforcements for help—her latest squeeze Rick Donovan and her sister Jillian. Because the cops are following faulty leads, which could put Vera on the wrong end of an arrest warrant … if she’s found alive.
International bestselling and award-winning author Ellen Butler presents book six in the Karina Cardinal mystery series! Fans of Elizabeth Peters and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum will adore this gripping mystery adventure.
Harvest of the Witch by Kirsten Weiss
Witches of Doyle Cozy Mysteries #12; Mystery School #0.5
Publication Date: October 6, 2023
Genre: Cozy Paranormal Mystery
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Halloween is coming… And so is murder…
Doyle witch Karin has it all. A loving husband. Two wonderful children. A flexible career. Now that her days of fighting dark magicians is over, she’s perfectly happy in her comfortable life. But beneath the surface of perfection, cracks are emerging.
So when a witch she’s mentoring asks for help, Karin might be a little too eager to escape her routine. Until she arrives at the remote mansion retreat to find her apprentice is dead.Exploring the fragile balance between love and longing, happiness and deception, Karin must follow the trail of dark magic to its end. But can she overcome not only a killer, but her own inner demons?
A thrilling supernatural mystery, packed with Halloween magic and murder! Perfect for fans of paranormal women’s fiction. This short read is book 12 in the Witches of Doyle mystery series and a prequel to Kirsten Weiss’s new Mystery School series.
Well, that’s it for the New Books Releasing Week 40 of 2023
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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