The Baroness’ Choices of New Books Publishing This Week
2026, Week 40’s New Books
My choices for this week include Romantic Fantasy, Cozy Historical Holiday Mystery, Sweet Cowboy Romance, Sweet Romances, Cozy Mysteries, Contemporary Romance, Cozy Holiday Mystery, Cozy Paranormal Mystery, and Cozy Culinary Mystery.
Can you believe that Thursday will be the first day of October? We will be sprinkling in some Halloween decorations with our fall decorations. I love the Halloween season, AKA spooky season.
This week’s list is the longest this month. I think that is a win. Anyway, Jen and I both have books we are reading. You should be seeing some reviews from us (yes, I am sure).
Here are my choices for New Books Publishing Week 40 of 2026!
A Carnival Of Fate by L.M. Sanguinette
Fated Carnival #1
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
They say The Devil is a cruel and heartless man… Perhaps that’s why he stole hers.
She made a wish to forget him, unaware of who was listening.
Day before her wedding, Elsie begins to question whether her nerves stem from cold feet or something more. That’s when she gets the unfortunate news… The wish she’d made to give up her heart wasn’t as harmless as she’d believed.
Her heart is being held captive by none other than The Devil himself. And he doesn’t give things back freely.
Her heart belongs to him, and he’s taken it back to the Carnival of the Arcana—a place where the tarot rules the night, fate makes bargains in whispers, and every attraction comes at a deadly cost.
She has until the wedding bells ring to steal it back. There’s just one problem…
The Devil has no plans of giving it up.
And the longer she stays at the carnival, the more she realizes she might not want her old heart back at all…
For fans of The Night Circus and Beauty and the Beast comes a new tale of romance and magic that will leave you in tears.
A Christmas Guide to Family and Murder by Dianne Freeman
Countess of Harleigh Mystery #9
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Cozy Historical Holiday Mystery
Goodreads | Bookhype | BookBub | StoryGraph | Amazon | Jen’s Book Review
A country Christmas in Victorian England takes a murderous turn in Agatha and Lefty Award winning author Dianne Freeman’s delightful mystery featuring Frances Hazelton, the former Countess of Harleigh, and her husband, George.
Frances and George are looking forward to a Christmas season enlivened by all the diversions London can provide. But family comes first, and George’s sister Fiona and her husband persuade everyone to gather at their Norfolk estate for the holiday. The weather will be chilly, but the prospect of snow delights the youngsters. And with blazing fires and invigorating country walks in store, Frances envisions a peaceful, jolly Christmas.
Instead of a picturesque snowfall, however, Norfolk is hit by pounding rainfall and high winds. In the aftermath of the storm, Frances, Fiona, and the children make an unpleasant discovery in a nearby field—the body of their neighbor, dead in suspicious circumstances. Joshua Penhollow was the local doctor, though not a well-respected one. Indeed, most viewed him as a quack, and even his own stepdaughter held a grudge against him.
With the menfolk gone to help clear a blocked road, the investigation falls to Frances and Fiona, who must also curb the young people’s excitement at encountering a real-life murder. Combing through a village full of colorful characters and more than a few suspects, Frances feels any hope of a quiet Christmas slipping away. But more pressing is the need to stop a killer whose heart is as cold as the season . . .
A Cowboy To Come Home To by Carol Ross
Bluegrass Blackwells #3
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Sweet Cowboy Romance
A Blackwell’s return can unravel everything…
Including hearts!Equine surgery specialist Ridge Blackwell avoids family drama at all costs—until the Blackwell stables need his help. With a top racehorse caught up in a doping scandal, Ridge has no choice but to return home and find out what’s really going on. His biggest priority? Clearing the name of the woman he once loved. Yet local veterinarian Julia Eisler is conflicted about seeing Ridge again. Between her bruised reputation, managing her fledgling practice and raising her eight-year-old niece, she’s already got more than enough on her plate. But keeping her growing feelings—and one big secret—hidden proves almost impossible when it comes to her Blackwell cowboy…
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
A Small Town Family Christmas by Jen Gilroy
Strawberry Pond #3
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Sweet Romance
Strings of lights, roasted chestnuts…
And a sweet holiday reunion!After fifteen years in the military, all Cal Paquette wants for Christmas is to figure out the rest of his life. Returning to charming Strawberry Pond, New Hampshire, to visit his foster mom seems like a solid first move. Until he comes face-to-face with Alana Hansen—the bright, beautiful woman he’d left behind. Working together at her family’s Christmas tree farm sparks feelings they’d both prefer to avoid. Cal isn’t sure of his next steps or where they will take him, and Alana isn’t ready to risk another chance on him. But he still longs to be the man she deserves. Could a moment under the mistletoe lead to a lifetime of happy celebrations?
Countdown to Christmas Murder by Leslie Meier
Lucy Stone Mysteries #32
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Goodreads | Bookhype | BookBub | StoryGraph | Amazon
Christmas may be 63 days away, but as the Tinker’s Cove Chamber of Commerce gears up for an elaborate Dickens-themed Christmas event, reporter Lucy Stone is already feeling a bit Grinchy—until a possible murder requires her sleuthing skills in the latest Lucy Stone Mystery from bestselling author Leslie Meier.
With all four kids out of the house, Lucy Stone’s suddenly empty nest has put a damper on her usual zest for Christmas. She’s got plenty of article ideas to keep her busy though, including reports of vicious social media posts targeting several town residents. Plus, there’s the self-proclaimed “reputation changer” who promises he can clean up any negative press. It all seems a bit too convenient to Lucy, who decides an investigation is in order.
On top of all that, after agreeing to play Mrs. Cratchit in “A Dickens of a Christmas,” Lucy also decides to plan a pre-Thanksgiving family weekend. Despite her juggling, it’s not a success—the kids and their partners come but the mood is tense, and Lucy is relieved to see them off. Then comes shocking news: bank manager Bert Cosgrove, one of the victims of the slanderous media posts, has been found dead. The police are calling it a suicide.
No one, including Lucy, believes sweet, mild Bert would take his own life. While holiday preparations reach a feverish pitch, she’s determined to find his killer. And as she burrows into a surprising history of motives, longstanding secrets and family connections begin to stink like rotten plum pudding. Now, as Lucy gets closer to the truth, she finds herself in a life-threatening situation that would definitely spoil Christmas—permanently.
Her Everyday Hero by Laurie Batzel
Crystal Hill #5
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Sweet Romance
Goodreads | Bookhype | BookBub | Amazon
Goodbye, romance…
Hello, happily-ever-after?Jackie Long is done with romance—both writing it and living it. Once she opens her bookshop, everyone in town will stop seeing her as a failed romance novelist. All she needs is a little renovation help from Carter Jacobsen, a firefighter and part-time contractor. Since losing his fiancée, Carter’s staying single. Jackie knows there’s no point in falling for the handsome, charming book lover, even as she suggests a pretend relationship to give him a break from his grandmother’s matchmaking. But a certain plot twist puts Carter further off-limits as Jackie discovers a shocking secret about his late fiancée. Can Jackie and Carter help each other let go of a painful past and…write their own love story?
Mad About You by Heidi Stephens
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Goodreads | Bookhype | BookBub | StoryGraph | Amazon
When an unexpected inheritance changes everything…
At forty-three, Meg’s life has drifted off course. Living back with her parents, with her career on hold, and making ends meet walking other people’s dogs, her days are quiet, simple – and slowly running out of meaning.
But everything changes when one of her clients dies and inexplicably leaves Meg her beautiful Cotswold house…along with three gloriously unruly dogs, and a note bearing the name of the local vet: Ed.
Ed is kind, intuitive, and frustratingly off-limits. But as Meg steps into a life she never asked for – surrounded by muddy boots, horses, and the weight of someone else’s legacy – she begins to realise this unexpected inheritance might just be the greatest gift of all.
A heartwarming and hilarious story about reinvention, new friendships, and discovering that the best chapters in life can begin in your forties.
Mrs. Claus and the Fatal Figgy Pudding by Liz Ireland
Mrs. Claus Mysteries #7
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Cozy Holiday Mystery
It’s a hectic holiday season for April Claus as she juggles everything from her Santaland duties to stage managing a community production of A Christmas Carol to sleuthing out who’s behind an actor’s fatal finale—all while caring for a very special delivery…
“Dear Mrs. Claus, I know you have a good heart. Please take care of baby August.” When April finds the poignant note accompanying an infant elf left at Castle Kringle’s door, she’s filled with emotion—and questions. After all, there’s an orphanage in Christmastown. And how is it that the baby’s name uniquely echoes her own? Despite her packed schedule, April is determined to care for little Augie while searching for answers. But one more drama is yet to come . . .
It’s curtains for the actor playing Tiny Tim when he keels over dead after eating April’s specially made figgy pudding. Distraught, April is at least relieved to learn that Castle Kringle’s kitchen didn’t make the deadly dollop of rum sauce responsible. But whodunit? The imperious director who wanted a casting change? The eager understudy? One of the surprising number of Santaland’s aspiring thespian elves?
Ignoring shady rumors swirling that Augie is secretly hers, April puts the baby on her hip and sets out to solve both mysteries. And as she digs deeper behind the scenes, the truth might just change all the Claus family’s Christmases to come . . .
The Ghost and the Dead Librarian by Cleo Coyle
Haunted Bookshop Detective Mystery #1
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Cozy Paranormal Mystery
Goodreads | Bookhype | BookBub | StoryGraph | Amazon
A LIBRARY JOURNAL “MYSTERY PICK OF THE MONTH” In an utterly charming new mystery from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle, a small-town Rhode Island bookshop owner investigates the death of an eccentric librarian with the help of a wisecracking, 1940s gumshoe ghost.
As a young widow, Penelope moved back to her quaint Rhode Island town to give her young son a safer home and her aunt’s dying bookshop new life. Using her late husband’s insurance money, Pen polished the store into a local treasure. But her updates did more than attract new customers. They roused a dead private eye from his big sleep.
With Pen’s affection for hardboiled detective stories, it’s no surprise she’s developed a fondness for the wisecracking yet oddly likeable spirit. Sure, Jack’s cold spots are exasperating, along with his proclivity for putting noir fiction in the cozy section. But murder was Jack’s business in life, and his PI skills come in awfully handy when the body of an eccentric librarian is found amid the bookshop’s aisles.
For years, Dory jokingly called herself “The Dead Librarian” because of her hobby of collecting and writing local obituaries. Now, in death, she’s discovered with her own eerily pre-written obit. Was it a suicide note? Jack and Pen say no and their certainty takes them from a ghost town’s ancient cemetery to a posh Newport mansion. When another body drops, a mysterious stranger makes Pen a shocking offer, one that may change her life—and Jack’s afterlife. But unless Jack can help Pen prove who “checked out” the librarian, a ruthless killer may close the book on her.
The Pumpkin Vice Cafe by Ellie Alexander
Bakeshop Mysteries #23
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Cozy Culinary Mystery
Goodreads | Bookhype | BookBub | StoryGraph | Amazon | Karen’s Book Review
Another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series set in Ashland, OR!
As autumn settles over the charming hamlet of Ashland, Oregon, ushering in cool, crisp breezes and a stunning show of color, everyone at Torte is keeping warm by whipping up a bevy of fall treats and spicy lattes. Jules is nearing her due date, and the whole town is abuzz―placing bets on when the twins will make their grand debut. Helen and the team are working on a secret surprise baby shower, complete with cupcakes, cookies, and a feast fit for royalty, or maybe just a mother-to-be.
Meanwhile, Lance and Arlo are busy planning their nuptials in what is sure to be as close to a royal wedding as Ashland has ever seen. But when the high-end wedding planner they hired is found dead in the frigid waters of Ashland Creek, what looks like a tragic accident, a slip on an icy bridge, quickly reveals itself as something much more sinister. Jules knows at once―this was no mishap. A killer is loose in Ashland, and they may be ready to strike again.
To Trust a Rancher by Alexis Morgan
Heroes of Dunbar Mountain #9
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Genre: Sweet Romance
Can an unexpected homecoming…
Lead to happily-ever-after?Moving to her hometown gives Brynn Hart a chance to build a stable life for herself and her two young children. The only hitch? Rhys Calland, the handsome soldier-turned-ranch-hand, has her intrigued, despite her reservations. While Lucy and Teddy adore spending time with him, she focuses on her job as business manager for the ranch. Like Brynn, Rhys is divorced and guarding his heart. Unlike Brynn, he’s only passing through Dunbar. When a threat from her past resurfaces, she’s determined to handle things alone. But Rhys failed his ex and can’t stand by without trying to help Brynn. Can she put past mistakes behind her and trust him—and possibly build a future for them all?
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
A Wedding Date with Death by Maeve Haran
Campervan Detective Mystery #2
Publication Date: September 30, 2026
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Something old, something new, something borrowed… someone dead?!
When Sadie Sutton swapped four walls for the four wheels of her trusty orange VW campervan, she didn’t realise that it would come with a new career as a super sleuth! But when a wedding at local beauty spot Winching Priory Hotel is halted because the father of the groom has been found fatally poisoned, Sadie drops everything to take on her next case!
As the wedding grinds to a halt, Sadie soon learns that the victim, gifted local artist Benedict Lawrence, also had a talent for making enemies, from the snooty hotel owners to his long-suffering ex-wife. With an ever-growing list of possible suspects, Sadie is stumped. Until she finds a crumpled, threatening note sent to Benedict hours before he died.
The note leads Sadie deep into Benedict’s past, to a secret love affair, a bitter feud and a long-buried grudge. And when she finds a faded newspaper article about him and his artist friends in their youth, she’s stunned at who else she recognises in the photo…
With secrets and lies at every turn, Sadie knows no guests are safe. Can she crack the case before the nearly wed become newly dead?
This warm, witty and utterly addictive cosy crime novel from bestselling author Maeve Haran is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, The Thursday Murder Club and Robert Thorogood.
Well, that’s it for the New Books Releasing Week 40 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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