The Baroness’ Choices of New Books Publishing This Week
2023, Week 6’s New Books
My choices for this week include Middle Grade Fantasies, Middle Grade Friendship, Dystopian Romantic Suspense Mystery, and Cozy Culinary Mysteries.
How are your resolutions going? How about your reading goals? I am sticking reasonably close to my reading goals. They get a bit sideways at times. Anyway, some new books are hitting the shelves. The cozy culinary mysteries we will be reviewing later this month.
Sorry for the lateness of this post; we got our wires mixed up.
Here are my choices for New Books Publishing Week 6 of 2023!
Haven’s Legacy by Jessica Benoist
The Powers #2
Publication Date: February 7, 2023
Genre: MG Fantasy
The thrilling and heartfelt second book in The Powers, a sweeping middle-grade fantasy series from Supergirl’s Melissa Benoist and her sister, the writer Jessica Benoist
When Parker and Ellie McFadden’s mysterious aunt Sadie shows up in the aftermath of the dramatic events at Haven House, they realize their world is about to get a lot bigger. They’ve been invited to join an underground society called the Sentry, a group comprised of powerful individuals tasked with protecting the planet. At Mountain Harbor, a summer training camp for junior members of the Sentry, Ellie and Parker will be given a chance to hone their newly realized abilities in a secure space. It’s what Sadie wants them to do, since she needs their help with an important and cryptic mission as soon as they’re ready.
But Mountain Harbor is not what it seems. Though Sadie promised the girls protection, the Danger—a smoky, tentacled being born of greed and chaos—has broken free of the forests surrounding Haven to follow Parker and Ellie to Mountain Harbor. The twins must rely on their new friends and teachers to help them defeat the fearsome threat and uncover the truth behind Sadie’s mysterious assignment. But most of all, they will have to rely on each other.
Opportunity Knocks by Sara Farizan
Publication Date: February 7, 2023
Genre: MG Friendship
For fans of Barakah Beats and Wendy Mass comes a funny friendship story from Lambda Literary Award winner Sara Farizan that’s sure to be a lucky charm.
Lila is trying to find her way in the world―to figure out her thing. Her talented sister, Parisa, and athletic best friend, Melanie, both seem to have found theirs… and Lila can’t help feeling left behind.
But just when she thinks she might have it in her school’s new band program, the floor falls out from beneath Lila. The program may have its funding cut!
Lila visits her local bank in an attempt to secure a loan for the band program. While she’s there, she’s shoved by a passing stranger. Before she can even complain, however, the man leaves the bank and disappears. At her feet, Lila sees a strange box. Inside rests an old key, with a message carved into the box: A simple clue for you who holds the key. Remember to unlock the door for Opportunity.
It turns out the key is magical! After falling asleep with it in her room, Lila is awoken by the appearance of a strange glowing door, which knocks three times from the other side. Upon opening it, Lila is met with the strangest sight. A girl her age waltzes into her room and claims to be Lila’s lucky day. The girl says she’s been called by many names: Providence, Fortuna, Lady Luck, Opportunity… but Lila can call her Felise. Felise will stay with Lila for seven serendipitous days, during which Lila will be the luckiest person in the world!
But the man who lost the key has not forgotten about it―or Lila. Having spent a fortune procuring the Key to Opportunity, he’ll do everything in his power to get it back.
Perfect Melody Silenced by Sarah Westill
Bella and the Beast Master #2
Publication Date: February 7, 2023
Genre: Dystopian Romantic Suspense Mystery
At the request of a desperate family searching for answers, Ruthenian Beast Master Markus Ralston, and his wolf Lunah, have returned to the shores of Sziveria. Only, Bella isn’t waiting for them.
Punished for her assistance in the capture of a serial killer, Bella Fenwick has been relegated to working in the basement of the Sziverian National Investigative Division. She can’t afford to complain however, so she keeps to herself, does her job, and hopes the guardians out to fire her won’t succeed. Once again, the arrival of Markus sends her world spinning, in more ways than one…
Markus grasps the only option available – he takes Bella from her demoted position and places her at his side, where it’s becoming clear to him, she belongs. Together, they begin investigating the mysterious death of a young rising singer.
But more than a murder case arises when Markus learns the truth about why Bella’s so desperate to keep her position within an organization that cares nothing for her. A revelation that makes him realize he may have to claim her as his mate before she’s ready to admit to the fiery spark igniting between them…
Six Sweets Under by Sarah Fox
True Confections Mystery #1
Publication Date: February 7, 2023
Genre: Cozy Culinary Mystery
In a cute new culinary cozy from USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox, budding chocolatier Becca Ransom must solve a murder before she meets a sticky end.
Former actress Becca Ransom lived her dream in Hollywood for seven years before returning to her hometown of Larch Haven, known as the Venice of North America. The Vermont town has canals instead of roads, gondolas instead of cars, and charming cottages plucked from the pages of a fairy tale. It’s also where Becca is pursuing her newest passion as a chocolatier at True Confections, the chocolate shop owned by her grandparents, Lolly and Pops.
While Becca’s testing new flavors and reconnecting with old friends, the town is gearing up for the annual Gondola Races, popular with both residents and tourists, with one exception. Local curmudgeon Archie Smith wants nothing more than to keep tourists away from Larch Haven. He’s determined to derail this year’s event and does his best to stir up trouble for the organizers, including Becca’s grandfather.
Following a heated argument with Pops, Archie is found floating face-down in the canal, and Pops finds himself in hot water as one of the top suspects. Becca’s determined to clear her grandfather’s name, but when the case heats up, she could be facing a sticky end.
Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron
Vintage Cookbook Mystery #2
Publication Date: February 7, 2023
Genre: Cozy Culinary Mystery
The second in a fantastic new cozy mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron.
It’s hurricane season in New Orleans and vintage cookbook fan Ricki James-Diaz is trying to shelve her weather-related fears and focus on her business, Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop, housed in the magnificent Bon Vee Culinary House Museum.
Repairs on the property unearth crates of very old, very valuable French wine, buried by the home’s builder, Jean-Louis Charbonnet. Ricki, who’s been struggling to attract more customers to Miss Vee’s, is thrilled when her post about the discovery of this long-buried treasure goes viral. She’s less thrilled when the post brings distant Charbonnet family members out of the woodwork, all clamoring for a cut of the wine’s sale.
When a dead body turns up in Bon Vee’s cheery fall decorations, the NOPD zeroes in on Eugenia Charbonnet Felice as the prime suspect, figuring that as head of the Charbonnet family, she has the most to gain. Ricki is determined to uncover the real culprit, but she can’t help noticing that Eugenia is acting strangely. Ricki wonders what kind of secret her mentor has bottled up, and fears what might happen if she uncorks it.
In the second Vintage Cookbook Mystery, Ricki has to help solve a murder, untangle family secrets, and grow her business, all while living under the threat of a hurricane that could wipe out everything from her home to Bon Vee.
Winston Chu vs The Whimsies by Stacy Lee
Publication Date: February 7, 2023
Genre: MG Fantasy
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents best-selling author Stacey Lee’s modern reimagining of a classic Chinese folktale―replete with magic, boba, and lots of trash talking.
Twelve-year-old Winston Chu is supposed to learn impulse control at the cooking academy his mom enrolled him in. But learning to think before he acts won’t happen overnight.While skateboarding home with a pie in hand, Winston inadvertently stops a robbery at Mr. Pang’s Whimsies, an oddities shop in Chinatown. As a reward, Mr. Pang invites Winston to choose any item in the store. But the strange old man warns Winston to browse carefully, for the first thing Winston touches will be the thing he gets. Before Winston can decide, a magpie flies under a shelf, and he impulsively grabs an old broom to sweep it out.
Mr. Pang hands him the broom, along with a dustpan. “Two for one. Congratulations.”
Deflated, Winston returns home, determined to put the broom incident behind him. Or at least in the closet. But when some of his most beloved possessions go missing, all Winston can think about are the broom and dustpan. Did they somehow take his stuff? And what―or who―will they dispose of next?
It’s time to break into Mr. Pang’s Whimsies, where clearly there’s more going on than meets the far-seeing eyeball. It’s time to fight magic with magic. And this time, Winston better have a plan.
Well, that’s it for the New Books Releasing Week 6 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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