The Baroness’ Choices of New Books Publishing This Week
2023, Week 50’s New Books
My choices for this week include Cozy Culinary Mystery, MG Fantasy, Romantic Comedy, Cozy Mystery, Cozy Culinary Crafts and Hobbies Mysteries, YA Paranormal Romance, Sweet Sports Romance, YA Fairytale and Folklore Adaptation, and Cozy Animal Crafts and Hobbies Mystery.
We are already in the second week of December! Have you gotten your holiday shopping done? For holiday shopping, are you an early holiday shopper, or wait after Black Friday? I try to finish my holiday shopping early, but it’s also challenging. We went to the bookstore this weekend to grab our books for our new Christmas Eve tradition. So many people were at the bookstore and the few shops we were at.
Some great books are coming out this week. I plan on reading one of these books, but not until the new year, so stay tuned for that.
Here are my choices for New Books Publishing Week 50 of 2023!
Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert
Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery #8
Publication Date: December 11, 2023
Genre: Cozy Culinary Mystery
BOOK EIGHT in the Award-winning BARKS & BEANS CAFE cozy mystery series!!
Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java…and where murder sometimes pays a visit.
During Lewisburg’s popular summer home and garden tour, Macy and her brother Bo discover new aspects of their hometown’s history. One of the last homes they visit features a lush commemorative shade garden marking where a Civil War soldier’s bones were buried. As Macy pauses to admire a bed of blue hostas, she glimpses a shadowy shape lying beneath the dinner-plate leaves. It turns out to be the body of famed movie star Cody Franklin, who’d purchased the garden house as a quiet country retreat.
Back at the cafe, Macy speaks with Cody’s distraught sister, who lets slip that she’s afraid her brother’s killer will target her next. Macy’s heart goes out to the bereaved sibling, and she agrees to speak with Cody’s local acquaintances in hopes she’ll uncover some helpful backstory.
But someone powerful is lurking behind the scenes, and Macy has to zoom in on the killer before everything fades to black.
Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.
Amelia Sand and the Silver Queens by Jim C. Hines
Publication Date: December 12, 2023
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon | Nook
Amelia Sand is a student at Ainsworth Academy, where nonhumans are taught to be “civilized.” But for the rulers of Umbra—humans who came through a world-gate from Earth and now sit upon the thrones—that’s not enough. When Amelia discovers their plans to use magic to force her and her fellow monsters into blind obedience, she sets out to stop them.
Everyone knows goblins can’t be heroes, so Amelia visits a world-gate to find human champions of her own. But instead of mighty young heroes, she gets stuck with two old women who have no interest in magic or fighting.
With her friend Boa (a talking shimmer snake), Amelia joins former teacher Ruth and absent-minded Lily on a quest to save the “uncivilized” peoples of Umbra.
Full of humor and hilarious goblin hijinks, Amelia Sand and the Silver Queens is a story about finding unexpected family and learning to trust in your own power.
Housebroke by Jaci Burton
Publication Date: December 12, 2023
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Goodreads | BookBub | StoryGraph | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Nook
A millionaire and a woman who thinks he’s a house flipper are stuck living in a house together with a menagerie of rescue dogs as roommates, in this heartfelt romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton.
After her ex took all their money and bailed, Hazel Bristow is left broke and homeless. A kind friend whose home is on the market lets Hazel and her foster dogs stay there until it sells. It’s the perfect setup, until her friend forgets to tell Hazel she’s sold the house.
Linc Kennedy is shocked to find Hazel and her pups squatting in the house he just bought, but after some negotiating—she offers to cook amazing meals for him in return for a paycheck—he agrees to let her remain while he’s renovating the place. Linc tells Hazel he’s an investor who renovates homes for fun—he just leaves out the part about being wealthy.
Hazel’s intrigued by Linc. He’s funny, sweet, ridiculously hot, and loves dogs almost as much as she does. But her track record with men? Not great. She worries her trust meter isn’t in working order.
Linc’s never met anyone like the quirky beauty who puts everyone’s needs—human and canine—before her own. He didn’t tell her about his wealth because he’s been burned by women who only wanted him for his money. But with Hazel, he’s never felt more like himself. Now he has to figure out how to tell her the truth without losing her. Because Linc realizes what he feels for her isn’t puppy love—it’s true love.
Match Box Murder by Leslie Langtry
Merry Wrath Mysteries
Publication Date: December 12, 2023
Genre: Cozy Mystery
From USA Today bestselling author Leslie Langtry comes a killer campfire tale…
It’s just another weekend camping trip for ex-CIA agent Merry Wrath and her precocious Girl Scout troop. This time the girls are learning riflery, taught by Merry’s assassin friend, Hilly (who isn’t an assassin because the CIA doesn’t have assassins because that would be illegal…but she totally is). What could go wrong?
Plenty, because the creepy camp caretaker is soon found inconveniently dead behind the rifle range. Naturally, a violent storm comes out of nowhere and strands the troop with four suspect camp staffers. The scout manual explains how to keep kids safe during storms, hiking trips, and the overly-enthusiastic application of matches to start a campfire, but there’s nothing on what to do when trapped in a lodge with a murderer. Can Merry unmask the killer before she and the girls get burned?
Note: This title was previously available as part of a Twisty Tales & Cozy Crimes collection.
Mince Pies and Madness by Agatha Frost
Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery #30
Publication Date: December 12, 2023
Genre: Cozy Culinary Crafts and Hobbies Mystery
Secrets, sabotage, and a sinister winter gala… Julia stands at the crossroads of Peridale’s future.
When a mysterious benefactor begins funding the spirited protests against the Howarth Estate development in Peridale, Julia South-Brown finds herself at the heart of a deepening rebellion. The ‘Save Peridale’s Soul’ campaign is gaining momentum, with the café abuzz with schemes to thwart the developers. Yet, Julia is troubled by a cryptic message from a woman connected to the council, hinting at dark days ahead. As the power cuts out, it’s clear that someone is determined to keep Peridale in the dark—literally.
With increasingly tempting offers to buy her café coming from the suave but sinister James Jacobson, the villagers rally behind Julia, undeterred by the looming threat of a developer’s takeover. The community’s resilience shines, with an illicit Christmas market springing up in defiance, but their unity is shattered when a car, brakes failing, crashes through the stalls.
As the village braces for the construction to begin, a cocktail of sabotage, secrets, and subterfuge brews, ready to spill over at James’ winter gala, promising revelations that could alter the fate of Peridale forever. With the future of the village hanging by a thread, Julia and her allies must piece together a fragmented history, unearthing long-buried grudges and alliances, making their last stand not just for their homes, but for the soul of Peridale itself.
Murder On a Snowy Evening by Lynn Cahoon
Cat Latimer Mystery #9
Publication Date: December 12, 2023
Genre: Cozy Culinary Crafts and Hobbies Mystery
Change is in the air for New Year’s Resolutions!
Cat Latimer and her friends have made some changes at the Warm Springs Writers’ Retreat. The new retreat will be a joint session with new attendees and return visitors. The theme? Goal setting for the next year as well as finding the word count magic. First up on the schedule is a joint snowshoeing session. They’ll come back to the warm Victorian for a soup and fresh bread dinner before starting on the more cerebral activities of a January writing retreat.
Included in the alumnus is the widow of a famous local author and past. Confronted with not one but two biographers who are planning very different books about her famous husband, she’s not enthused about going on the snowy bonding adventure.
When the self-proclaimed secret mistress and writer of a sensational tell-all book goes missing, Cat thinks she’s decided to leave the retreat. Then her body is found in a summer cabin owned by the grieving widow.
Can Cat dig out the clues to find who killed the brash young thing or will Cat’s grieving friend lose one more thing to her husband’s death? Her freedom.
Our Cursed Love by Julie Abe
Publication Date: December 12, 2023
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Goodreads | Bookhype | BookBub | StoryGraph | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Nook | BAM
Julie Abe’s OUR CURSED LOVE is a magical 50 FIRST DATES meets LOVE AND GELATO set in Tokyo, Japan―about destiny, the impact of the choices we make, and the magic of true love.
Six days to remember.
Love or lose him forever.Remy Kobata has always wished she was destined to be with her best friend, Cam Yasuda. All the way from being neighbors from birth to mixing up magical prank potions together to their “just friends” homecoming date during their senior year in high school, nothing’s a secret between Remy and Cam―except for how much she is in love with him.
Remy is trying to work up the courage to confess her feelings during their winter break trip to Japan, when she gets selected for a mystical tea leaves reading and it reveals that they’re not meant to be together. After they stumble upon a secret magical apothecary in the back alleys of Tokyo, Remy and Cam are offered an ancient soulmate elixir, created before all love potions were banned by the magical government. They each have their reasons for wanting to take it, but what could go wrong with finding your soulmate a little earlier?
Except, after they drink up, their senior year trip flips into the worst vacation ever: Cam has forgotten who Remy is. If she can’t help Cam remember her by midnight New Year’s Eve, they’ll both be cursed to forget each other. To unravel their past and rewrite the future, Remy and Cam must travel through Tokyo to rediscover Cam’s memories and make new ones―and maybe even fall in love all over again.
The Rules of the Rink by Tomi Tabb
Publication Date: December 12, 2023
Genre: Sweet Sports Romance
Sometimes the rules are meant to be broken.
Frankie has spent the last few years living the life she’s always dreamed of—traveling the world and skating in front of thousands as a princess with Dreams on Ice. But when her father begins experiencing health problems, she knows the time has come to retire her tiara, hang up her skates, and move home.
Once back in the small town of Grizzly Springs, Frankie takes a job at a local ice rink and meets Charlie, the rink’s skating director, and one of the world’s biggest grumps.
Although she tries her best to avoid him, the universe has other ideas and keeps bringing them together. Despite a rocky start to their relationship, Frankie soon discovers that there is much more to Charlie than meets the eye.
As they come together to work toward the goals they both gave up long ago, can their icy relationship melt into something more?
This is a sweet romantic comedy about love and second chances. If you enjoyed the classic films “The Cutting Edge”, “Ice Castles”, and “Ice Princess” this ice skating themed sports romance is for you!
Tropes:
-Pairs figure skating
-Grumpy and Sunshine
-Small town
-Friends to lovers
-Closed door/kissing only
To Destroy an Illusion by Kendra E Ardnek
Shattered Tales #11
Publication Date: December 12, 2023
Genre: Young Adult Fairytale and Folklore Adaptation
Goodreads | BookBub | StoryGraph | Amazon
Surrounded by glass and glamour, how can you know what’s real?
Now
Isobel’s life is perfect – as long as she doesn’t look too closely at the cracks in the glass. Yet, it’s a lonely life, so when a charming young man takes the place of her reflection and speaks with her, she’s glad for the companionship, even if his secrets threaten to topple everything she knows. Just how did she come to live in this glass palace?Before
Kieran might play the part of the roguish younger prince, but he takes seriously his role as the last line of defense against threats to his parents and brother. When Lothilla brings her goddaughter to court wrapped in too much glamour, and his brother falls for the girl too quickly, he knows that something must be wrong. But what can he do against the power of an elder fae?Secrets and mystery abound, and who knows the truth under the perfection? What will stay standing when the illusion is destroyed?
To Destroy an Illusion is a retelling of “The Glass Mountain” but also contains heavy inspiration from “Fairer-than-a-Fairy,” “The Glass Coffin,” and a few other fairy tales you might know and love.
It is one of twelve novellas in The Shattered Tales, a collection of fractured retellings of your favorite fairytales. The Shattered Tales can be enjoyed in any order, so fall in love with the swoony-sweet romance, magical adventures, and tale-shattering twists one happily-ever-after at a time!
Paint Can Kill by Joanna Campbell Slan
Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery #9
Publication Date: December 15, 2023
Genre: Cozy Animal Crafts and Hobbies Mystery
It’s raining outside, and it’s raining inside. Hey, that’s Florida. But as sassy entrepreneur Cara Mia Delgatto watches a van full of Highwayman paintings walk out the front door of The Treasure Chest–because the collection’s owner is taking them back–she’s crying on the inside all the way to the bank. There will be no quick fix for this. Instead Cara focuses on an outstanding bill. When she visits the wealthy woman who has stiffed her, Cara stumbles over another stiff, a dead body. With multiple crisis in her business life, Cara grieves the loss of her live-in love and her rescue Chihuahua. The man and the dog have left a huge hole in her heart. Will Cara survive all these losses?
Well, that’s it for the New Books Releasing Week 50 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!
Baroness’ Book Trove is an Amazon, Books A Million, and Barnes and Noble affiliate, meaning that if you click on a link that takes you to one of those retailers and purchase something, this blog gets a tiny percentage back. Mainly, this helps with the cost of the website and a few giveaways.
Leave a Reply