The March Texas Books Preview has the key to unlock a treasure trove of springtime reading bliss. This month you’ll find a chocolate-filled cozy mystery, a modern-day western thriller, an Alamo-sized historical fiction adventure, and much more. March on over to your local indie bookstore with our list in hand to grab your next bookish journey.
by Jack Woodville London
Six years after the fall of the Alamo, Mexican armies invade freely across the Rio Grande and Texas is but one skirmish away from losing its hard-won independence. Naïve surveyor Alexandre LaBranche accepts a dubious commission to map the Rio Grande boundary between Texas and Mexico but soon finds himself far out of his depth. Bullied into spying by a vindictive Sam Houston, saddled by two bumbling horse thieves, and unsettled by a mysterious young Black woman who seems to know his business better than he does, Alexandre’s peril escalates when the Mexican army invades San Antonio and takes him prisoner. Dangerous Latitudes is a quest across a frontier that becomes a race to save 200 captured Texans who the Mexicans have marked for death.
by Jennifer Carr
Kensington "Kensi" Rose Solinas has escaped a life of privilege turned nightmare, fleeing to the quiet town of Liberty, Texas. At The Yellow Rose Inn, she finds solace—and an unexpected connection with Wyatt Turner, a former Navy SEAL turned bar owner and rising country music star. Wyatt sees past Kensi’s guarded strength to the woman determined to reclaim her life. But Kensi’s past isn’t ready to let her go. When danger strikes and she's dragged back into the world she fought to escape, Wyatt must risk everything to save her. With everything on the line, they’ll fight for freedom, trust, and a future they never thought possible.
Starman After Midnight: A Novel-in-Stories
by Scott Semegran
In suburban Wells Port, things are not what they seem. The stories in Starman After Midnight weave an often hilarious and sometimes melancholy spell. Connecting these stories are two neighbors, Seff and Big Dave: one a progressive writer, the other a conservative plumber. They share a love of beer drinking and gossiping. When several pets in the neighborhood wind up missing or dead, they monitor their security cameras for the culprit.
They discover a naked man roaming their street at night. Suspicions are raised while hysteria spreads through the neighborhood social media app. What’s the connection? They form a posse of neighbors to find out.
Starman After Midnight is a novel told in stories, a collection that adds up to something greater than the sum of its parts.
Texas Terror: Cass Callahan, Book Five
by Chris Mullen
Deep within Texas’s power grid lies a hidden cyber weapon, poised to cripple the Lone Star State—and only Cass Callahan can stop it.
With tech genius Scoots Faraday and his no-nonsense former partner Ray Tucker, Cass races to dismantle a deadly conspiracy. One wrong move could trigger a catastrophe that would bring Texas to its knees.
Meanwhile, at the West Texas border, chaos erupts. Flint and Raven face off against a ruthless Mexican cartel, where every decision could be fatal. As threats close in, Cass must weigh loyalty against survival and justice against vengeance.
The clock is ticking. Can Cass outwit the masterminds behind the attack, or will Texas fall into darkness?
Vanishing into the 100% Dark: Bean to Bar Mysteries, Book Eight
by Amber Royer
Bean to chocolate maker Felicity Koerber has been invited to be part of a chocolate festival in Tokyo. It’s intimidating enough to be giving a class on chocolate making with the help of a translator – she also stumbles across the scene of a murder, where a quirky group of international actors and stunt performers are making a monster movie. At this point her friends basically expect her to get involved – even before the young media influencer in Felicity’s group becomes the main suspect. Felicity has taken on the role of chaperone for Chloe, so she can’t imagine how she could explain what went wrong to the girl’s mother, giving her even more motivation to figure out the real killer.
by Kathryn Dodson
When amateur detective Jessica Watt’s dog unearths a skeleton in a pecan grove, she has no idea she's about to unravel a decades-old mystery that will shake a family to its core. What really happened to Paul Brown, who vanished without a trace years ago?
As Jessica investigates, she confronts a tangled web of family secrets--and she's no stranger to family issues. The suspect list grows as she learns Paul Brown had much to hide and his disappearance might have ended in murder.
From the mountains of the Texas / New Mexico border to the ranches of Mexico, Jessica will risk everything to expose the truth. But some families guard their secrets with deadly determination, and someone is watching her every move.
by Paul McGrath
What happens when an alien gets stranded in rural Mississippi?
Anton-7, aka Roy McDonald, has missed his flight back to his native planet, Xylodon, and, stuck in Mississippi, decides to make the most of his exile.
He breaks the primary rule of his superiors – avoid interference with humans. His assigned mission evolves into one of his own choosing, and his new journey brings him friendship, a budding romance and a good bit of adventure. Anton-7’s rule-breaking escapades create a dust storm of chaos and confusion in both worlds.
As much social satire as science fiction, Left is a little bit The Day the Earth Stood Still, a little bit Starman and a whole lot of what is wrong with America.
by Raquel Y. Levitt
Clairvoyant Sarah Richardson screams as her sister Katherine is forced into a straitjacket and thrust into a carriage bound for the St. Louis City Lunatic Asylum. She is devastated to learn Katherine has been blamed for her inadvertent role in an abused woman’s murder. Now, too frightened to speak up, Sarah hides the truth that it should have been her in that carriage.
When Sarah’s mounting guilt becomes too much, she heads to St. Louis, determined to regain her sister’s confidence and prove herself worthy of forgiveness. Desperate to do whatever it takes to make things right, she embarks on a perilous journey that might cost her freedom, and her life.
Murder on the Neches: A Fen Maguire Mystery, Book Eight
by Bruce Hammack
When a tech millionaire's body surfaces in a Texas lake that straddles two counties, jurisdictional chaos erupts.
Private investigator Fen Maguire is called in to untangle the mess and lead the investigation.
While two lawmen chase competing theories, Fen sees beyond their obvious suspects. Rich but reviled, the victim had a talent for turning everyone against him—employees, family, acquaintances—each harboring motives worth killing for.
As evidence mounts and arrests loom, Fen’s instincts tell him they’re missing something crucial. Amidst the rough waters of county politics, Fen must determine not only where the murder occurred, but who among the victim’s rivals and supposed friends delivered the fatal shot before consigning him to a watery grave.
by Linda Broday
Creek has a reputation as a gunslinger, a lawless man—one to be feared. So, when an orphaned eleven-year-old girl in this rough border town claims she’s his daughter, it jolts the very fiber of his being.
Yet Willa July stands firm. Creek has the mark on his wrist that proves her claim. When she’s taken by a crazed killer from his past, Creek is propelled into a desperate chase. He alone understands the depths of this monster’s evil mind.
Time is his enemy as he races to save her. But if he succeeds in getting the girl back, can Creek tear down his walls and embrace the role he never dreamed possible?
Stone of Doubt: Stones of Iona, Book Five
by Margaret Izard
A human with Fae powers living like an oddball has its ups and downs until Evie MacDougall’s dream Fae boy pops back into her life after she thought another was “the one.” One dark and devilish, the other her long-lost love. Evil forces trap her for a magic Fae stone, but which man can she trust?
As a teen prophesied to be Fae king, Aodhán viewed the girl of his dreams through an Eye of Ra. Once, he risked all to help Evie MacDougall find a magic Fae stone, only to end up imprisoned. Kept from his true love for years, he finds her at risk from an evil Fae hunting a magic stone.
Is a single vow strong enough to save true love, to save the human and Fae realms?
by C.I. Jerez
An Iraq War veteran returns to Puerto Rico to reconnect with—and confront—the past in a heart-wrenching novel about duty, motherhood, and the healing power of home. As a combat medic, Lina LaSalle deploys to help save lives, but when her convoy is attacked, she’s forced to do the unthinkable. Although honored as a hero, Lina cannot find her footing. Stricken with PTSD and trying to support her young son, Teó, a little boy with Tourette’s, she attempts to self-medicate and relents to the doing the toughest thing yet. She asks for help. After retreating to her parents’ house in Puerto Rico, Teó thrives.
But amid the island magic are years of misunderstandings that could erode the very stability she’s fighting for.
Runners: The Oakleys, Book Two
by Phil Oakley
From the author of Little Hatchet, this gripping historical saga continues—a powerful story of resilience, family, and the price of ambition. Perfect for fans of epic generational tales and action-packed historical fiction.
Walter Oakley and his wife, Ada, used the westward expansion of America to establish themselves as model citizens in the town of Telegraph, Texas. Now, they watch in despair as their children lurch from one crisis to another — rum running, train-hopping outlaws, shattered dreams. With one child dead and another on the wrong side of the law, Walter and Ada struggle to keep their younger children on the straight and narrow. But trouble and temptation beckon as Prohibition and the Great Depression give way to the horrors of World War II.
This Moment: Moose Village Series, Book One
by Kelly Elliott
In the foothills of the Adirondacks, not much ever changes in the tiny town of Moose Village. Or so Kian thought. But this time, there’s one big difference: Moose Village is playing host to a mystery woman who happens to be working at his aunt’s bakery. Lovely Cadie Waterford is the talk of the town gossips, as much for her luscious banana bread as her unwillingness to talk about her past. Kian Carter’s not normally one to engage in gossip… but the more time he spends with Cadie, the more intrigued he becomes. Whatever her secrets may be, he’s sure he can handle them—but when words like FBI, CIA, and even murder come into play, does Cadie need more protection than Kian thought?
Or does Moose Village need protection from Cadie…?
The Wretched and Undone: A Novel
by J. E. Weiner
On the eve of the Civil War, Polish immigrants Marcin and Agnieszka Anderwald arrive in Bandera, Texas, seeking a fresh start in a new land of fertile soil and freedom. But their dreams quickly become nightmares when Marcin provokes a sinister specter hell-bent on revenge. A battle ensues for the hearts, minds, and souls of the Anderwalds and their extended family of immigrant outcasts, Arab camel wranglers, wounded warriors, and a songstress on the verge of madness. As the generations unfold, each must confront its darkest fears. Can faith, love, and sacrifice overcome unrelenting evil, or will the Anderwalds remain forever wretched and undone?
by Licia Chenoweth
Trouble is the last thing Raini expects when she stops to help a young girl on a New York subway after her belongings are scattered across the platform. Before Raini can return the girl’s mobile phone, she dashes away, leaving it behind. Unsure of what to do next, Raini receives unexpected help from Harlow, a mysterious girl in her French class. Together, they uncover a cryptic text message on the phone that leads them to Coney Island. What starts as a simple good deed quickly spirals into a pulse-pounding adventure they never saw coming.
Texas Divided: Lone Star Redemption
by Sherry Shindelar
Can she trust the man who ruined her life to rescue her future?
Driven by the looming expectation of becoming a proper lady, Morning Fawn is determined to escape the confines of her uncle’s plantation and return to her adoptive Comanche tribe. But with each failed attempt, her hopes dwindle. The last thing she needs is help from the frontier scout who put her there in the first place.
Disillusioned with the Confederacy and his role in Morning Fawn’s kidnapping, Devon Reynolds returns to Texas as a Yankee spy, determined to make amends. But can two wounded souls, each fighting their own battles, find solace and love amidst the chaos of war?
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 March:
CHILDREN'S, MIDDLE GRADE, & YOUNG ADULT BOOKS
Bleeding Heart by Kendra E. Ardnek
Catty Corner Lands on Her Feet by Julie Murphy
Catty Corner Pounces into Action by Julie Murphy
I Witnessed: The Lizzie Borden Story by Jeramey Kraatz (author) & Crystal Jayme (illustrator)
The Legend of Dark Girl by Regan Rothe
Maple's Formula for Victory by Kate McMillan
Nightweaver by R M Gray
Ranch Girl and a Boy Named Toby by Brenda Ethridge Ferguson
The Strongest Heart by Saadia Faruqi
A Teddy Bear for Emily―and President Roosevelt, Too by Nancy Churnin
The Traveling Tuxedo: Adventures in Fort Worth by Melissa Coyle
When We Ride by Rex Ogle
MYSTERY / HORROR
The Accidental Detectives: Tell Me It's Murder Without Telling Me It's Murder by Dakota Cassidy
Blood Moon by Sandra Brown
Blood of the Blackthorn by Rocio Carranza
The Bone Witcher of Knob Mountain by Becki Willis
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
Dairy and Deadly by Jo Grafford
Death at the Killer Kite Festival by Bessie Barr
Deception by Christy Barritt
The Emerald Heist by LB Dayton
Gold in Them Texas Hills by Russ Hall
The Human Scale by Lawrence Wright
Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourne
The Lady and the Texas Ranger by Brittany E. Brinegar
The Lady at the Gate by Eva Pohler
Little Hidden Fears by Cheryl Bradshaw
Memento Mori by Kayla Frederick
Murder Doesn't Take a Vacation by Jayna Morrow
Murder, She Glamped by April Nunn Coker
One Deadly Take by D.B. Borton
Seeking Evil by Mary Alford
Softball and Stickups by Brittany E. Brinegar
This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead
The Truth We Seek by Lisa Harris
Two Good Deeds by Luana Ehrlich
A Weiner Dog Wedding by M. Alfano
A Witchy Spookfest by Rhonda Hopkins
NONFICTION
Captain Perry's Pantry & Perks by Perry S. Patrick Sr.
Democracy or Bureaucracy? Who is really in charge? by Perry S. Patrick Sr.
The Fifteen: Murder, Retribution, and the Forgotten Story of Nazi POWs in America by William Geroux
Grandma Putzmackey's Cookbook by Perry S. Patrick Sr.
Iranians in Texas by Mohsen Mostafavi Mobasher
No Less Strange or Wonderful by A. Kendra Greene
The Putzamackey Effect by Perry S. Patrick Sr.
Quartermasters of Conquest by Christopher N. Menking
Robert E. Howard: The Life and Times of a Texas Author by Willard M. Oliver
Screen to Screen by Austin City Limits
Shadows of Power by Perry S. Patrick Sr.
Songs of My Grandmother: On Finding Ourselves, Each Other and the Things That Make Us Come Alive by Sara Surani
The Tell by Amy Griffin
The Texas Native Plant Primer by Andrea DeLong-Amaya
Tough Streets, Rough Skies, and Sunday Sidelines by Larry Wansley with Carlton Stowers
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew by Emmanuel Acho
OTHER FICTION
Don't Call Me Hero by Dara Kountz
Hold My Bunny by Dara Kountz
The Magical Heist by Martha Carr & Michael Anderle
Now Comes the Raven by Jean M. Roberts
The Ones Who Got Away by Stephen Graham Jones
Overlord's Folly by Jaxon Reed
Prepper Nation: Ignorance is Strength by Tom Abrahams
Raven 02: Fueled by Fury by Michael Anderle
Shades of Prejudice by Isabel Campbel & Michael Anderle
Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine by Callie Collins
We Pretty Pieces of Flesh by Colwill Brown
POETRY
The Impossible Hours by Octavio Quintanilla
ROMANCE
All's Fair in Love by Katherine L. Evans
Arrogant Devil by R.S. Grey
Bandit's Bounty by Darlene Tallman
The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn
Bed of Roses by Caylee Hammack & Carolyn Brown
Blood and Bravado by Atreus Rosewood
Call Sign Raptor by Clover Autrey
Captive at Rescue Ridge by Barb Han
Changed Plan by Indie Sparks
Cody by Sylvia McDaniel
Courting Mae by Sofia Jade
The Cowboy Who Spoke Softly by Liz Isaacson
The Cowboy's Undoing by Leah Vale
The Cowboy's Unexpected Guest by Bonnie Fields
Deception, Death, And The Divine by Lindsey N. Rhoden
Desiree by Sylvia McDaniel
Embracing Juliette by Leyna Cohan
The Evolution of Emma by Kailin Gow
Fae-King It by C.C. Wood
Freeing His Spitfire by Loni Ree
A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames
Hats to Boots by BA Tortuga
Heartfelt Goals by Ginny Sterling
Her Rugged Texas Cowboy by Janalyn Knight
Hidden Roots by Clio Evans
Honeymoon with a Stranger by Kathryn Kayleigh
Joy by A.J. Llewellyn & D.J. Manly
Love Bites by Aimee Vance
The Love Simulation by Etta Easton
Mail-Order: Shepherd by Caryl McAdoo
Mr. McBeefcake by Kat Baxter
My Trojan Horse Majesty by Bridget E. Baker
No More Spies by Lexi Blake
Off the Record by Kasey Stockton
Outlaw Ridge: Aiden by Delores Fossen
Property of Rio by Darlene Tallman
Protecting Josie by Susan Stoker
Reilly by Kathleen Ball
Saber's Surrender by Liberty Parker
Say Yes to the Grump Cowboy by Phoebe Hunter
Secrets and Second Chances by Kathryn Kaleigh
The Secrets We Keep by Noelle O'Ryan
Stolen Highland Dreams by Terry Spear
Taking the Shot by Ginny Sterling
The Tears of a Cowboy by Elsie Davis
The Texas Ranger's Mail Order Bride by Jacqueline Carmine
Texas Wilde: Training the Trainer by Lexi Richards
A Thousand Cuts by A.M. Rose
What's Love Got To Do With It by Debra Clopton
The Wolf of My Eye by Terry Spear
The Wrangler by Delta James
Want to make sure your forthcoming Texas-connected titles are included in our feature? Email us at Publicity@LoneStarLiterary.
