The Baroness’ Choices of New Books Publishing This Week
2026, Week 8’s New Books
My choices for this week include Cozy Paranormal Mystery, Romantic Fantasy, New Adult Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal Mystery, Romantic Comedy, Young Adult Fairytales and Folklore, and Historical Private Investigator Mystery.
How is it the third week in February already? What did you do for Valentine’s Day? Are you ready for Fat Tuesday, aka Mardi Gras, this Tuesday? My idea of a good morning to celebrate Mardi Gras would be with some hot chocolate and a jelly-filled donut while reading a book. How about you? However, I will be working while eating my donut and drinking my cocoa.
This week’s books all sound so amazing. Although, none have jelly-filled donuts in them…at least none that I am aware of. Jen and I have some books that we are eyeing from this list.
Here are my choices for New Books Publishing Week 8 of 2026!
A Deathly Display by Kirsten Weiss
Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery #11
Publication Date: February 17, 2026
Genre: Cozy Paranormal Mystery
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Can Maddie’s sleuthing save her sister from a deadly encore?
Maddie and her sidekick Herb are just trying to survive a snooty curation class at the Domus Vinea museum. But then Maddie’s opera-diva sister, Melanie, trips over the museum director’s body. Suddenly, the vibe’s less “classy art seminar” and more “murder most melodramatic.” With a sneaky killer eyeing Melanie for the next curtain call, if Maddie can’t solve this mystery, Melanie’s next aria could be her last.
Maddie and her quirky crew must bumble through a lineup of suspects, including a swoon-worthy vintner whose haunted painting hides a chilling secret—and whose charm might just steal Maddie’s heart.
Grab A Deathly Display and start reading this hilarious whodunit today!
For readers who crave a cozy mystery about a woman finding belonging through small-town wine-country sleuthing and the gentle absurdity of everyday hauntings. Perfect if you like breezy pacing, light supernatural quirks, and warm humor over gritty tension—think vintage charm, quirky neighbors, and just-enough chills to keep pages turning without losing sleep. Book 11 in the series.
Gods Beneath the Ice by Alexandra Kennington
Blood & Souls Duology #2
Publication Date: February 17, 2026
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
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Heartbroken and grappling with unwanted powers, Revna must work with the person she swore to forget if she’s to lead her people and unravel the secrets behind her new magic in this page-turning conclusion to the Blood & Souls Duology.
After winning the Bloodshed Trials, Revna has the crown she wanted. What she didn’t want was the newfound Lurae abilities she manifested. Still, she’s determined to bring equality to her people and end the holy war draining her kingdom’s resources. But the godtouched fear her, the godforsaken don’t trust her, and her best friend doesn’t know the truth she’s been hiding. When the war-ending treaty is signed, Revna will reveal her secrets and finally put the Hellbringer behind her.
Except the Kryllian Queen refuses to sign the treaty when she discovers how volatile Revna’s bloodsinging is. Desperate for any alliance, Revna begrudgingly agrees to the queen’s proposal: if Revna can learn to control her magic in three weeks, negotiations will resume. But there’s a catch—the queen’s general will be the one training her.
Revna will work with the Hellbringer once more, though she won’t make it easy. But when the general discovers that the dead are unable to pass on, they realize there’s more at stake than their tangled relationship. Ancient, powerful secrets tie the realm—and Revna and the Hellbringer—together, and their only hope of lasting peace is to unweave them.
Half City by Kate Golden
Harker Academy #1
Publication Date: February 17, 2026
Genre: New Adult Fantasy
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This deluxe, first-edition trade paperback of Half City will feature beautifully stenciled edges and captivating interior cover art!
Welcome to Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. Keep your daggers sharp, and your wits even sharper.
Viv Abbot is an average twenty-one-year-old girl. She lives in an expensive city where the rent is too high, works long hours at a thankless job, and is dating a guy she doesn’t even like in the hopes of winning her prickly mother’s approval.
She also happens to be a demon hunter.
Ever since her father’s murder, she’s been forced to hunt deviants alone, meaning everyone, including her family, sees her as an outsider . . . until the day she crosses paths with a dangerously alluring demon, Reid Graveheart. The reformed deviant tells her of a school for people just like her: Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. If she enrolls, she’ll learn to hone her craft, work with other hunters, and never be alone again.
But Viv has a deadly secret. One that not even her new friends at Harker can know about, not if the school might hold the answers to untangling the mystery surrounding Viv’s father’s death. When strange occurrences begin to plague the students, Viv will have to figure out who she can trust, all while trying to ace her classes, avoid falling for a demon, and make it through her first year at Harker in one piece. How hard could that be?
I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig
Publication Date: February 17, 2026
Genre: Mystery
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After a decades-long stint in prison, former serial killer Carol is looking to kick back and relax in her new retirement home…until a fellow resident drops dead and Carol has to prove she actually didn’t do it this time….
Carol is delighted to be leaving her tiny prison cell behind to take her place in a luxury retirement home. She’s hoping her past as a serial killer won’t come to light so she can make a few friends and find some murder-free hobbies. But it’s not long before a fellow resident—who happens to be a former police commissioner—drops dead, and Carol’s true identity is leaked—making catching up over daily activities of bingo and baking rather awkward.
Just her luck, Carol soon realizes that the victim wasn’t the only former law enforcement officer at Sheldon Oaks—it’s filled to the brim with former cops, barristers, and government representatives, her newfound friends included. And everyone thinks Carol’s guilt is a no-brainer, but she is ready to prove them dead wrong…without killing anyone, for once.
Murder Will Out by Jennifer K. Breedlove
Publication Date: February 17, 2026
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
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Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award winner Jennifer K. Breedlove brings coastal Maine to life in Murder Will Out, a lighter, modern gothic mystery that’s as atmospheric as it is heart-warming.
Come for the memories. Stay for the murder…
Little North Island, off the coast of Maine, is so beautiful it could be a postcard. Organist Willow Stone cherishes her memories of childhood summers spent on the island with her godmother Sue… even though her visits ended abruptly, and she hasn’t seen or heard from her godmother in over fifteen years. Until a letter from Sue―and word of Sue’s death―brings Willow back to the picturesque island.
The islanders rarely mention Sue without also bringing up Cameron House, and the controversy around Sue’s unexpected inheritance of the sprawling mansion. When Willow overhears someone threatening the next heir to the property, she starts to question whether Sue’s death was really an accident, and can’t help but wonder whether someone on this sleepy island is willing to stop at nothing―even murder―to claim Cameron House for their own.
Through Willow’s eyes, as well as those of others on the island, a mystery unfolds that keeps drawing Willow back to Cameron House and the very real ghosts that walk its corridors.
The Ex-Perimento by Maria J. Morillo
Publication Date: February 17, 2026
Genre: Romantic Comedy
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A woman enlists the help of her favorite musician to win her ex-boyfriend back in this sparkling romantic comedy set in Venezuela by debut author Maria J. Morillo.
Maria “Marianto” Camacho is a planner. At twenty-seven, she has her life perfectly mapped out. Her long-term boyfriend, Alejandro, is perfect on paper, and she’s expecting a proposal any day now. She has a stable job as a lifestyle columnist at Ellas, one of Latin America’s biggest digital magazines. Her future is set; she’s sure of it.Until everything falls apart overnight: Marianto loses her boyfriend and her job. But she’s determined to get them both back with an idea that is either delusional or ingenious—a juicy new article for Ellas that documents a series of romantic experiments to get her ex back. Thus begins The Ex-Perimento. With her bank account dwindling, however, Marianto lands a temporary gig on Venezuela’s hottest new singing competition show. Her job? Personal assistant to Simón Arreaza, the lead singer of her favorite indie band.
It’s only her second day on the job when Simón discovers Marianto’s list of romantic experiments, striking her ideas and replacing them with his own better ones. Out of desperation, she offers a proposition: Help her win back Alejandro, and she’ll give Simón’s band a profile in the magazine once she returns to Ellas. But between the close quarters on set and the blurred lines of a budding friendship, Marianto and Simón find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other, caught in a whirlwind of unexpected romance.
Transformed Tail by Leialoha Humpherys
Displaced Fairytales #2
Publication Date: February 17, 2026
Genre: Young Adult Fairytales and Folklore
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She has one month to win the prince’s heart—or vanish into seafoam. Falling for the wrong prince was never part of the plan.
Princess Aulani was born under the sea, but the world above calls to her. When she rescues a drowning prince, she risks everything for a forbidden transformation: legs in place of fins, and a single chance to earn his love before the spell breaks.
But she surfaces in the wrong kingdom… and the only creature who understands her? A talking frog with problems of his own.
Prince Ezra never wanted the crown—or the curse that turned him into a coquí frog. With his kingdom crumbling and his throne stolen, he has no choice but to rely on the mermaid who, quite literally, splashed into his world.
As tides shift and hearts entangle, Aulani and Ezra discover that love isn’t just the strongest magic… it’s the one thing that might save them both.
Set in a lush island kingdom inspired by the Hawaiian islands, Transformed Tail is a sparkling mashup of The Little Mermaid and The Frog Prince. This enchanting clean romance features grumpy/sunshine banter, forbidden love, he-falls-first swoon, and a sea of heart-tugging moments sure to sweep you away. Perfect for fans of magical transformations, second chances, and fairy tales with tropical flair.
Torn from one fairytale and trapped in another: the Displaced Fairytales series is a multi-author fairy tale retelling series of standalones from your favorite no-spice, closed door young adult romance authors.
The Case of the Christie Curse by Kelly Oliver
Detection Club Mystery #3
Publication Date: February 21, 2026
Genre: Historical Private Investigator Mystery
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The BRAND NEW page-turning, historical cozy mystery series from Kelly Oliver
Mesopotamia, 1930: When Agatha Christie invites fellow members of the Detection Club to witness the famous excavations at the ruins of Ur, Dorothy L. Sayers, her quick-witted assistant Eliza Baker, and Theo Sharp expect ancient wonders – not fresh corpses.
But when an archaeologist is found dead in the sand, whispers of a deadly curse sweep through the camp. Eliza suspects something far more dangerous than superstition. Amid glittering artifacts and fragile alliances, every guest harbors secrets: the Woolleys, whose marriage is shadowed by tragedy; a journalist hungry for scandal; even academic Max Mallowan, whose loyalties are not what they seem.
As theft, forgery, and coded messages surface, the line between archaeology and espionage blurs. And when Eliza and Theo find themselves in danger, they must face not only the truth about the murder – but also the truths they’ve long denied about each other. Can they uncover the killer before the desert claims another victim? Or will this dig unearth secrets too dangerous to survive?
Well, that’s it for the New Books Releasing Week 8 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!
Baroness’ Book Trove is an Amazon affiliate, meaning that if you click the link and make a purchase, this blog receives a small percentage back. Mainly, this helps cover the website costs and a few giveaways.
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