Texas authors blossom during Texas Writers Month with a bouquet of fresh new titles. We have a posy of delights to charm readers young and old in our May Texas Books Preview. Pluck a title from the list and bask in that new book fragrance. Check out these upcoming releases to discover a new mystery, charm the young reader in your life, fall into a new fantasy world, or revel in a new romance.
A Camping Conundrum: A Liz Adams Mystery
Stacy Wilder
A heart-pounding cozy mystery filled with twists, turns, and canine charm. Perfect for fans of page-turning whodunits and outdoor adventures!
Whitney Cubbison
To celebrate her fortieth birthday, Ophelia and her husband Gianluca gather an unlikely group of eight friends and lovers for a weekend in Ibiza. However, the idyllic villa setting may be the only thing holding together a complicated tangle of friendship, love, and betrayal.
Ophelia knows she loves her husband, but “love” is a word she never learned to say, a silence rooted in a childhood tragedy. What she doesn’t know is that Gianluca has been whispering it to someone else. And when his mistress crashes the party with her own boyfriend, she brings a revelation that could unravel everything.
Across Rome, Paris and Ibiza, the guests explore where love begins and falters, and the courage it takes to hold on—or to let go.
Robert Espenscheid, Jr.
Two admitted felons on probation, one ‘Nam vet, and one Grosse Pointe deb collide to form an unlikely rock band. Internal conflict blows them apart. Faith in the music they make patches them back together for one wild-ride cross-country tour.
America, 1973. Christine on lead, Henry on rhythm, Gretchen on bass and Melissa on drums. A chaotic rise, fighting amongst themselves, battling self-destruction, finding their sound, learning to trust, finding a helping hand, overcoming convention (girls can’t play guitar) to become one band, on one tour, for one month – New York to LA and all the stories in between.
This one is for all the rock bands who never headlined the big stage, who never needed protection getting to the limo, who never made any money, who never got signed, who had no answer to the cry of “why aren’t you guys famous?” It’s for those who wrote killer songs never heard on the radio, who never made a Rolling Stone cover—or even a mention inside. It’s for those whose collars were always blue, who were promised this and wound up with that, who always opened and never closed.
Joanne Kukanza Easley
In 1986 Austin, Texas, sixteen-year-old Stephanie steps into sixty-two-year-old Lauren’s life, her uncanny resemblance cracking open a buried past. Claiming to be the daughter of the child Lauren gave up for adoption forty-five years ago, Stephanie upends Lauren’s life—already complicated by her remarriage to Brett after decades apart. Stung by her adoptive grandmother’s deception, Stephanie stays, her past of tragedy and self-harm forging a fragile bond with Lauren and Brett. When Stephanie’s trust fund evaporates, crushing her college dreams, Lauren sacrifices all to give her a future—only to face a bittersweet twist that echoes the past and changes everything. This heart-wrenching family drama delves into the power of unconditional love, and the strength found in facing our pasts.
Too Much the Lion: A Novel of the Battle of Franklin
Preston Lewis
Too Much the Lion follows a handful of Confederate generals, infantrymen, civilians and slaves through the five days leading up to the horrific 1864 Battle of Franklin and its tragic aftermath.
The historical novel offers an unvarnished account of the dying days of the Confederacy in a powerful and moving narrative of honor and betrayal, bravery and cowardice, death and survival.
Told with poignancy and honesty by accomplished and award-winning novelist Preston Lewis, Too Much the Lion achieves for the Battle of Franklin what The Killer Angels did for the Battle of Gettysburg, providing a classic fictional account of one of the Civil War’s pivotal encounters.
Meet the Kellys: The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne
Chris Enss
Gangsters. Lovers. Legends. Meet the Kellys—the bootlegging, bank-robbing, husband-wife duo known as “Machine Gun” Kelly and Kathyrn Thorne—who masterminded one of the most infamous kidnappings in American crime . . .
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!
There are so many Texas-connected books publishing this month that we couldn’t feature all of them. The following books also publish in May:
CHILDREN'S, MIDDLE GRADE, & YOUNG ADULT BOOKS
100 First Words for Little Texans by Christopher Robbins
Abeni and the Kingdom of Gold by P. Djèlí Clark
Breaking Covens, Building Dreams by Isabel Campbell & Michael Anderle
Cascarones: An Easter Surprise by Alicia Salazar
Dream for the Land by Laekan Zea Kemp
Echoes from the Past: The War Elephant by John Caldwell
Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas by Lynne Cox, Author & Brian Floca, Illustrator
Enigma Jewels by Rox Burkey & Charles Breakfield
Firefly Season by Cynthia Leitich Smith
The Last Hope by Sarah Noffke & Michael Anderle
Let Them Stare by Jonathan van Ness & Julie Murphy
Magical Elements of the Periodic Table Presented By The Alchemical Wizards Book 2 by Sybrina Durant
The Minor Rescue by Meredith Davis
Pick Your Own Quest: Raptors in the Ranchland by Connor Hoover
Rattlesnakes by Jennifer Lee Anderson
Sally's Musical Tale by Rosie J. Pova
So Many Years by Anne Wynter, author & Jerome Pumphrey, Illustrator
Tinker's Legacy by A.T. Michaels & Michael Anderle
Welcome Home, Esmerelda by Daniela Ramirez
MYSTERY / HORROR
Blame the Dogs by Laura Martin
Castle of Horror Anthology Volume 12: Ripped from the Headlines
Champagne Toast, Murder Chaser by Joni Folger
A Dash of Death by L.B. Dayton
Dead Silence by John W. Mefford
Four Fatal Elements by D.B. Borton
Hurtin' to Curse by Allie Katt
The Lady and the World’s Fair by Brittany E. Brinegar & J.E. Brinegar
The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers with Alex Kiester
The Night Birds by Christopher Golden
Our Last Wild Days by Anna Bailey
Promises and Politics, Another Murder by Christa Nardi
Rawhide and Ransom by Jo Grafford
Sacculina by Paul E. Cooley
Three for the Kill by D.B. Borton
Treasure and Treachery by Kady Hinojosa
NONFICTION
Alcon Laboratories by Thomas McDonald
The Architecture of the Playing Field by Richard L. Cleary
The Ballad of "Blind" Willie Johnson by Shane Ford
Being in Relation: Indigenous Peoples, the Land, and Texas Christian University, 1873-2023 by Scott M. Langston, Theresa Strouth Gaul and C. Annette Anderson
Birds of the Texas Coast by Ron Grimes
Bragging Rights by Keith Gåddie
Courting History by James F. Simon
Dare to Dream Scary Fast by Wade Wilson
Daughters of the Bamboo Grove by Barbara Demick
Fire in the Piney Woods by Edward Cavallerano
Gardening on the Dry Side of Texas by Mary Irish
Lone Star Tarnished by Cal Jillson
Melting Point by Rachel Cockerell
One Day at a Time: 180 Days of Hope for Special Needs Parents by Beth Richards
Parking Lot Birding by Jennifer L. Bristol
Pigs, Pets, and Public Health by Ronald D. Warner
Plants with Purpose by Monika Maeckle
Rockets, Tanks, and Submarines by Edward T. Cotham Jr.
Saltgrass Prairie Saga by Jim Burnett
Small Town Author by John R. Erickson
Superbloom by Mark Lisk
Texas BBQ by Jonas Cramby
Texas Turf by Anne J. Bailey
We've Been Misled: Eating Healthy is Simple by Robin Dobbins
Who Is Willie Nelson? by David Stabler
OTHER FICTION
Ace in the Hole by Jaime Castle & Rhett C. Bruno
Apache 16: Texas Killing by William M. James & Laurence James
Austin Blues by Gary Keith
Bloodless by G.J. Terral
Bloodlines by Michael Anderle
Cinderwitch by Eva Pohler
Codename: Savant by TR Cameron & Michael Anderle
Crown of Night and Rain by Susan Person
Crystal Heart by Kelli Robyns & Michael Anderle
Dancing with Dragons by Maria Grace
Deep Time by Susan Sizer Bogue
Devil In The Pale Moonlight by D. Hollis Anderson
The Devil Three Times by Ricky Fayne
Doom's Division by Yoon Ha Lee
Drama On Stage by Michael Anderle
Drunk Love: Marriage Under the Influence by Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje
The Emilie Adventures by Martha Wells
The Forbidden Spell by Martha Carr & Michael Anderle
Free at Last by L.J. Breedlove
Girls with Long Shadows by Tennessee Hill
Heartseeker by Amy Campbell
The Jonah Way by Chad Lehrmann
Lured into the Deep Anthology
Marked by Moonlight by Sophie Jordan
Midnight Justice by Robin Dobbins
Misfit Youths Find A Champion by Robin Dobbins
No Waif Out by Renée Jaggér & Michael Anderle
One More Temptation by Michael Todd & Michael Anderle
Queen of All Mayhem by Dane Huckelbridge
Rapunzel Unchained by Erin Bedford
Saving the Sands by Bradford Bates & Michael Anderle
Shattered Nightmares by River Tatum & Michael Anderle
Spellbound by Kelli Robyns & Michael Anderle
Turn the Guns by Michael Anderle
Until Peace Comes Again by Raymond Wilkinson
Veil of Sacrifice by Martha Carr & Michael Anderle
Whistling Women and Crowing Hens by Melora Fern
Worthless Treasures by Mary L. Hamilton
The Wounds of My Father by Roccie Hill
POETRY
Into Her Wild by Nilam Patel
ROMANCE
As You Ice It by Emma St. Clair
Badge of Honor by Alexa Verde
Best for Last by Baleigh Jayne
Birdy by Karen Gammons
The Bounty Hunter's Surrender by KyLee Woodley
Built to Last by Lexi Blake
Catherine's Pursuit by Lena Nelson Dooley
The Cowboy Who Heard Her by Liz Isaacson
Desert Pursuit by Jennifer D. Bokal
Don't Forget the Milk by Eden Rosethorne
The Edge of Us by Katherine L. Evans
Finders Keepers by Nicole Lenz
Forever Theirs by Kennedy L. Mitchell
Glitter and Grace by Katherine L. Evans
Imperfectly Perfect by Dania Voss
Inheriting an Irish Groom by Sylvia McDaniel
Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez
Lachlan by Angel S. Vane
Last Mango in Palm Springs by Bix Barrow
The Love Haters by Katherine Center
Love in Focus by Lyla Lee
Mae by Caryl McAdoo
Mine by Clio Evans
Missing in Texas by Virginia Vaughn
Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood
Protecting Addison by Susan Stoker
Puck, Marry, Thrill by Ginny Sterling
Quid Pro Beau by Kat Baxter
Renard's Deliverance by Laylah Roberts
Reunited by A.J. Llewellyn & D.J. Manly
Rule #15 Friends First by Caryl McAdoo
Rule #16 Listening is Everything by Linda Carroll-Bradd
Seeking Her Forever Cowboy by Janalyn Knight
The Senator's Rescue by Linda Carroll-Bradd
Silverleaf Rapids by Jodi Thomas
Simply Yours by Ginny Sterling
Sold to Three Alphas by Mia Wolf
Stand-in Texas Dad by Cathy Gillen Thacker
Summer of Sunsets by J. Collette Smith
The Texan's Unexpected Home by Jolene Navarro
A Texas Soldier's Love by Julie Benson
To Catch a Fortune by Rochelle Alers
Want to make sure your forthcoming Texas-connected titles are included in our feature? Email us at Publicity@LoneStarLiterary.
