The Baroness’ Choices of New Books Publishing This Week
2024, Week 49’s New Books
My choices for this week include Cozy Paranormal Mysteries, Private Investigator Humorous Holiday Mystery, Romantic Comedies, Cozy Animal Holiday Mystery, Young Adult Romantic Mystery, Cozy Culinary Paranormal Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Middle Grade Fantasy, Young Adult Mystery, Historical Fantasy Mystery, Sweet Regency Romantic Comedy, Paranormal Romantic Comedy, Sweet Holiday Romance, and Cozy Traveling Mystery.
We are still reading like crazy over here. There are so many reading challenges to try to finalize. Then, we are trying to come up with a day to change out the fall decorations for our Christmas ones. Have you already decorated for Christmas?
I have got another fantastic list of books for you to look at. Jen has read one and has two on her TBR.
Here are my choices for New Books Publishing Week 49 of 2024!
Ophelia P.I. Murder in Cicero by T. Lockhaven and Catherine LaCroix
Ophelia PI #1.25
Publication Date: December 1, 2024
Genre: Cozy Paranormal Mystery
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Murder in Cicero: An Ophelia P.I. Mystery
Set in the charming yet enigmatic 1950s Cicero, Illinois, Ophelia’s cozy and magical short story is a must-read for fans of the Eastwind Witches and the Dresden Files. In this spellbinding tale, Ophelia, a resourceful sleuth, receives an urgent tip from psychic Madeline Lewis about a murder that’s about to happen. Can Ophelia unravel the clues and stop the murder before it occurs?
Packed with intrigue, enchantment, and a touch of the supernatural, this cozy murder mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat. Dive into the magical world of Cicero and join Ophelia on her thrilling quest to prevent a crime and uncover the secrets lurking in the shadows.
Get your copy of the first short story today and immerse yourself in a gripping tale that will leave you craving more!
Fa-La-La-La-Lola by Melissa Bourbon
Lola Cruz Mystery #7
Publication Date: December 2, 2024
Genre: Private Investigator Humorous Holiday Mystery
Fa-La-La-La-Lola: A Lola Cruz Christmas Mystery
Christmas is a time for giving, but Lola Cruz never expected her holiday spirit to include solving a murder. When PI-in-training Lola Cruz agrees to help Jack Callaghan’s cousin, Margo–with her baby in tow–she quickly finds herself in the middle of a holiday caper like no other. Just when Lola thinks she’s found Margo a safe haven, a man is found dead—and the police want answers.
Now, with Margo a prime suspect and the law closing in, Lola must untangle a web of secrets and lies. With Jack reluctantly by her side, their undeniable chemistry adds sparks to the chill in the air as they follow a trail of clues that lead them through festive but potentially deadly twists and turns.
Lola’s sleuthing skills are put to the test as she uncovers more suspects than snowflakes, from shady neighbors to mysterious Christmas cards with sinister messages. Can she solve the case in time to save Margo’s future—and make it home for her family’s annual tamale-making marathon?
Filled with Lola’s trademark humor, heart, and sass, Fa-La-La-La-Lola is the perfect holiday caper to curl up with this Christmas. Fans of Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum will love this fast-paced, festive adventure!
Perfect for fans of:
- Sassy sleuths with a knack for getting in (and out) of trouble
- Holiday-themed mysteries with a dash of romance
- Laugh-out-loud capers with heart
Get ready to deck the halls with mystery and mischief—Lola Cruz style!
The Spirit of Vanderlaan by Susan Harris Howell
Samantha Hayes #1
Publication Date: December 2, 2024
Genre: Cozy Paranormal Mystery
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When beloved professor, Samantha Hayes, learns that her favorite four students live in as many of her old dorm rooms, she wonders how it happened and for what purpose. As she and her student entourage explore the possibilities, they uncover a death years ago and what appears to be the ghost of the dearly departed. All of this stirs up Samantha’s long-held fear that she was responsible for that death, challenging all she thought she knew about herself and the work she holds dear. They must figure out what happened before Samantha gets fired for “dabbling in the paranormal.”
Designs on You by Jaci Burton
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genre: Romantic Comedy
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Sparks fly when an interior designer and a game designer cross paths, but they must learn if they can design a happily ever after in this heartfelt romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton.
Natalie Parker is in her mid-thirties, divorced, and firmly focused on her newly resurrected career and her two children. When her sister asks her to help design the backyard in the new home she shares with her boyfriend, Linc, Natalie’s more than happy to take on the project. What she isn’t prepared for is Linc’s younger brother, video game designer Eugene Kennedy. He’s smart, incredibly good-looking, and constantly flirts with Natalie. He’s also too young for her, which makes him totally off-limits.
Eugene is intrigued by Natalie’s beauty, smarts, and especially her sarcastic wit. When he teases her, she throws it right back at him. Besides that, they have an instant chemistry, but she keeps trying to get rid of him despite the sparks that fly between them. And Eugene never backs down from a challenge.
Natalie is running out of reasons to think being with Eugene is a bad thing. Her kids adore him, her sister loves him, and even her always negative mother does, too. The only person holding her back is…her. Maybe it’s time she take that leap and design herself a love for the ages. After all, if she can create the perfect home, she sure as hell can design a happily ever after.
Mistletoe, Mutts and Murder by S.A. Kazlo
Samantha Davis Mysteries #6
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genre: Cozy Animal Holiday Mystery
Christmas is coming and children’s book author, Samantha Davies, and her lovable dachshund, Porkchop, are caught up in the holiday festivities in beautiful upstate New York. Sam’s parents, Chuck and Barbara, who have been enjoying their retired life in sunny Florida, have flown into Wings Falls to spend the holidays with Sam and meet her new boyfriend, Detective Hank Johnson. Sam is also busy hosting this year’s Christmas party for the Loopy Ladies, Sam’s rug hooking group.
The Loopy Ladies know how to party and are enjoying an evening eating, drinking, and making merry… until Santa crashes the party. Unfortunately, this Santa is Sam’s next-door neighbor who her parents have had a long-running feud with. When not playing the local mall’s not-so-jolly old St. Nick, Leo Sayers is a newspaper reporter, and he announces to the group that he’s written a damning article accusing Sam’s dad and his close friend, Herb Feinstein, of some very shady dealings in their past. To preserve peace on earth—and among the Loopy Ladies—Chuck and Herb escort Leo from the party.
Only, not long after being sent on his way, Santa is found dead—lying in the snow, run over by a plastic reindeer, with a string of Christmas lights around his neck! Are Sam’s father and Herb now on the naughty list? If Sam can’t prove them innocent of murdering Santa, she’s afraid their stockings will contain handcuffs and a one-way ticket to prison this year!
My Fairy God Somebody by Charlene Allen
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genre: Young Adult Romantic Comedy
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Author Charlene Allen blends mystery, romance, and friendshipin this contemporary YA novel perfect for fans of We Deserve Monuments and Far from the Tree.
The way Clae’s mom tells it, her dad took off when Clae was a baby, end of story. Ever since, it’s just been the two of them, living in the coastal city of Gloucester, where Clae is one of the only few Black girls. But when Clae discovers clues about a mysterious person she calls her fairy god somebody, she’s determined to know more.
Her chance comes when she’s accepted into a summer journalism program in New York City, where her parents lived before she was born. With a couple of leads and a steel resolve, Clae leaves home for the first time to find out about her history.
New York is as full of magic as it is mystery, not to mention romance. From Brooklyn to Broadway, Clae and her new friends, Nze and Joelle, explore neighborhood haunts and hustles, discovering a family trail that someone’s tried hard to bury. So who is the fairy god somebody? And can Clae use her sleuthing skills to find out the truth?
Set against one unforgettable NYC summer, this is the story of lies that run deep and patterns that are meant to be broken. Clae, Nze, and Joelle will stick with you and remind you that every girl deserves to write her own story.
PS I Hate You by Lauren Connolly
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genre: Romantic Comedy
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In this splendidly bittersweet romantic comedy, enemies forced together by a mutual loss are led on a cross-country journey toward a second chance.
Maddie Sanderson would be proud to honor her older brother’s dying wish, that she scatters his ashes over eight destinations that the adventurous 29-year-old never got to visit before he died from cancer. But in his will, Josh assigned her an impossible partner to help complete the mission—Dominic Perry. Seriously, if Maddie weren’t already at her brother’s funeral, she would have killed him for this.
Sure, Dom was Josh’s life-long best friend. He’s also the infuriating man who broke Maddie’s heart back when she was naïve enough to give it to him. But since Dom insists on following the rules and Josh didn’t leave much room for Maddie to argue the matter, they embark together on a series of farewell trips that span thousands of miles, exploring new places and revisiting their complicated history along the way.
After a snowstorm leads to a shared bed, Maddie starts to wonder if her brother might be matchmaking from the grave. But when grief also reopens old wounds between them, Maddie will need more than Josh’s ghostly guidance to trust Dom again.
Sinister Snack Attack by Amanda M. Lee
Two Broomsticks Gas and Grill Witch Cozy Mysteries #10
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genre: Cozy Culinary Paranormal Mystery
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Stormy Morgan should be on top of the world. She’s engaged, about to move into her dreamhouse, and her magic is stabilizing. In fact, she’s becoming one heckuva witch.
Too bad trouble keeps finding her.
This time it comes in the form of a gang of kids who appear to be stealing cars from various townsfolk. It’s become a big enough issue that everybody in town is becoming unnerved, paranoid even. Their solution is to form a Neighborhood Watch, which should be okay in theory. Unfortunately, the reality is anything but.
Stormy’s dreams are being plagued by threatening shadows, to the point where she thinks she’s being watched. On top of that, there’s something odd going on with the mayor and his wife, which just might involve one of Stormy’s cousins. That would be enough to keep Stormy busy, but there’s more.
The residents are acting odd. They’re not just fighting crime, they’re treating it as if it’s life or death. They’re getting aggressive, and everybody is in danger. That’s everybody.
Stormy doesn’t know where to start. Is she dealing with one problem or multiple problems? She’s going to need help to get to the bottom of things. Even her powerful allies might not be enough to save the town.
Shadow Hills is home but suddenly it feels like a different place. Will Stormy be able to save Shadow Hills—and everybody who lives there—before it’s too late?
Strap in. You’re about to find out.
The Close Up by Pip Drysdale
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genre: Psychological Thriller
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A struggling author discovers the dark side of fame when a stalker begins reenacting violent events from her thriller in this electrifying and twisty new novel.
When Zoe Ann Weiss moves to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming a writer, her whole future is wide open. But then Zach, the bartender and aspiring actor she’s falling for, ghosts her. Her debut novel, a thriller, fails. And she has writer’s block worse than ever before. Now, three years later, Zach is famous and Zoe is…not.
She’s facing her thirtieth birthday, a dead-end job at a flower shop, and a demanding agent, terrified she’ll never get her life back on track. But when she goes to make a flower delivery and Zach is at the address, it’s like no time has passed at all. They start casually dating in secret, her writer’s block disappears, and Zoe begins to wonder: Zach inspired her first novel, so why can’t he inspire her second?
But then the inevitable happens and photos are leaked, landing Zoe in the press. Her first novel goes viral, and now everyone seems to know her name. Except the problem with everyone knowing your name is that everyone knows your name—including the mysterious stalker obsessed with Zach. A stalker who begins reenacting violent events from Zoe’s book, step by step, against her…
The End of the Story by Melissa de la Cruz
Chronicles of Never After #5
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
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Return to the land of Never After for the last time in the riveting conclusion to New York Times–bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz’s hit middle-grade series perfect for fans of The Land of Stories books.
The Never After crew is back for a final epic adventure . . . With Queen Olga drawing ever nearer, Filomena and her friends race to find the last surviving fairy, Sabine, and protect her at all costs. For if Sabine dies, so does
all of Never After. Without a moment to lose, Filomena, Jack, Alistair, Gretel, and the rest of the gang―along with some new pals like Captain Hook―set off for Pan’s Neverland to find Sabine.But even in Neverland, there’s mischief afoot. Pan is no ordinary boy, and the group discovers Sabine goes by another name in this mysterious realm: Tinker Bell! But trickster gods and undercover fairies are just the beginning for Filomena and her adventurous friends.
As Olga’s evil forces close in, will Filomena find a way to protect the magic of Never After once and for all, and ensure a happily-ever-after for the End of the Story?
The Party by Natasha Preston
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genre: Young Adult Mystery
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#1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Natasha Preston is back with another pulse-pounding, twisty read!
Are you invited?
In the heart of the English countryside, Bessie and her closest friends gather at a remote castle for a secret party destined to make this the best spring break ever. But when the first of them dies, the party takes a lethal turn.
As the body count continues to rise, Bessie and her friends must contend with a deadly storm and growing internal suspicion, all while trapped inside with a killer.
Set against the backdrop of a sprawling English estate, Natasha Preston’s latest thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat until the party’s over…
The Secret of the Three Fates by Jess Armstrong
Ruby Vaughn Mystery #2
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genre: Historical Fantasy Mystery
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Following the atmospheric and award-winning gothic historical mystery debut, The Curse of Penryth Hall, USA Today bestselling author Jess Armstrong’s heroine, Ruby Vaughn, returns in The Secret of the Three Fates, where the Scottish Hills hold ghosts of the past that threaten Ruby’s present.
American heiress Ruby Vaughn still hasn’t entirely forgiven her octogenarian employer and housemate Mr. Owen for bringing the occult into their lives during her recent trip to Cornwall. He claims their journey to Manhurst Castle in the Scottish Borders is simply to appraise and acquire illuminated manuscripts for their rare books shop, however when Ruby discovers there are no manuscripts and receives news of a séance to be held that very night, she begins to grow suspicious about the true reason why they have come.
The Great War left grieving families willing to sacrifice anything for the chance to say goodbye to a lost loved one. Mr. Owen is no exception. He is desperate to speak to his son, but he doesn’t want to face the spirits alone. When the séance―hosted by a trio of mediums billing themselves as The Three Fates―goes awry, Mr. Owen’s secrets begin to unravel, threatening to reveal a history that he has been running from for half his life. Something Ruby knows all too well how to do.
When Ruby finds one of the Three Fates murdered the night of the seance, she and Mr. Owen quickly become the prime suspects. To clear their names, Ruby enlists the help of Ruan Kivell, the folk healer Pellar who helped her weeks before in Cornwall. As their investigation progresses Ruby and Ruan realize someone is determined to prevent them from uncovering the truth about what happened to the dead medium.
The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right by Suzanne Allain
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genre: Sweet Regency Romantic Comedy
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When a young woman trades places with her noble cousin, their innocent ruse leads to true love in this sparkling new Regency-era romantic comedy of manners from the author of Mr. Malcolm’s List.
When Arabella Grant’s wicked aunt dies suddenly, both Arabella and her cousin Lady Isabelle cannot help but feel relieved. She’d made their lives miserable, and now Lady Issie is free to read to her heart’s content, and Bella is free from taunts about her ignoble birth.
Their newfound freedom is threatened, however, when Issie’s great-aunt commands her to travel to London for a come-out Issie has never wanted. Issie, who is in poor health, is convinced she’ll drop dead like her mother did if she drops into a curtsy before the queen. So when her great-aunt turns out to be nearsighted and can’t tell the noble Lady Isabelle from her commoner cousin Arabella, Issie convinces Bella to take her place. Bella can attend all the exclusive entertainments that her lower birth would typically exclude her from, and Issie can stay in bed, her nose in a book.
Bella agrees to the scheme for her cousin’s sake, but matters turn complicated when she meets the irresistible Lord Brooke. He begins courting her while under the impression she’s the rich and aristocratic Lady Isabelle, who, unlike Bella, is a suitable bride for an eligible young earl. And Bella, who is convinced that she has met “Lord Right,” worries what will happen when she reveals that he’s actually fallen for…the wrong lady.
Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Comedy
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A woman discovers that not all monsters are her enemy—the opposite, in fact—in this new paranormal romance by Lana Ferguson, author of The Fake Mate.
Keyanna “Key” MacKay is used to secrets. Raised by a single father who never divulged his past, it’s only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world he’d always refused to speak of. With just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her father’s life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, Key has no idea what she’ll find in Scotland. But repeating her father’s mistakes and being rescued by a gorgeous, angry Scotsman—who thinks she’s an idiot—is definitely the last thing she expects.
Lachlan Greer has his own secrets to keep, especially from the bonnie lass he pulls to safety from the slippery shore—a lass with captivating eyes and the last name he’s been taught not to trust. He’s looking for answers as well, and Key’s presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. It’s even more troublesome when he gets a front row seat to the lukewarm welcome Key receives from her family; the strange powers she begins to develop; and the fierce determination she brings to every obstacle in her path. Things he shouldn’t care about, and someone he definitely doesn’t find wildly attractive.
When their secrets collide, it becomes clear that Lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is after—and that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, they’ll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess.
A Christmas Hope by Shanna Hatfield
Hudson House Holiday #4
Publication Date: December 5, 2024
Genre: Sweet Holiday Romance
A heartfelt holiday tale of a family’s legacy that leads two hearts to love.
Reeling from the recent death of his father, Alex Hudson returns to Silver Bluff to protect his family’s legacy. Upon reaching Hudson House, he discovers the once-vibrant estate all but abandoned. On top of that, his conniving aunts seem intent on seizing his inheritance. In search of support, Alex turns to a local attorney. There, he meets a woman who becomes an ally, friend, and the one person who can give him hope and a place to belong.
Nori Laroux enjoys working as a partner at her father’s law firm. However, when he entrusts an important client to her care, Nori finds herself grappling with her feelings for Alex Hudson from the moment they meet. Committed to protecting his inheritance, she is determined to help Alex preserve the legacy of Hudson House, even if it means risking her own heart in the process.
When Alex suggests the idea of reopening the historic home for a Christmas celebration, Nori and her family eagerly step in to help deck the halls and fill Hudson House with cheer.
Will the holiday season bring Alex and Nori to the discovery that hope is a special gift and that love is the most treasured of all?
A Christmas Hope is the fourth book in the Hudson House Holiday series of wholesome, heartwarming Christmas romances full of the joy of the season.
Death by Oxcart by Jennifer S. Alderson
Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries #10
Publication Date: December 6, 2024
Genre: Cozy Traveling Mystery
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Tour guide and amateur sleuth Lana Hansen is back on the road! And where Lana travels, trouble is sure to follow…
When Lana’s boyfriend, Alex Wright, gets into a jam during his first tour as a guide for Wanderlust Travels, Lana is sent to Costa Rica to help out.
Yet nothing could prepare her for the mess she finds—a guide in the hospital, a hysterical client calling for Alex to be fired, and bickering guests threatening each other. This is not how Lana wanted to start touring again!
Thrown into the deep, she has no choice but to help Alex overcome his problems with their clients, while leading the troubled group through Costa Rica as best she can. By day two, things appear to be getting better—until a guest is trampled by an oxcart during the Costa Rican Independence Day celebrations.
When the police determine his death to be murder—and that only someone in her group could have killed him—Lana knows she has no choice but to flush out the killer before they strike again.
Join Lana on an adventurous tour of Costa Rica and see whether you can puzzle out the murder’s identity before she does!
Well, that’s it for the New Books Releasing Week 49 of 2024
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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