FEBRUARY TEXAS BOOK PREVIEW
Preview of Texas-connected books publishing in February, 2026
Extend your reading life in 2026
Up for a challenge? Need a refresh in your reading life? Consider extending your preferences outside your typical go-to genre. The February LSLL TBP feature holds treasures across the reading spectrum just waiting for you to discover your next favorite book. We have a plethora of daring nonfiction, compelling mysteries, engaging romance, and mesmerizing fantasy, all with that Texas-connected extra that puts the cherry on top. Read on to explore these highlights.
Daughters of Daring is the story of more than a dozen trick ropers, bronc busters, and bulldoggers turned actresses who, like the early ranch women and rodeo competitors, had pluck and charm. These women performed their own stunts, riding horses at breakneck speed, firing guns, and capturing outlaws. Cowgirl actresses such as Ruth Roland, Helen Gibson, Texas Guinan, Marin Sais, Anne Little, Marie Walcamp, and Evelyn Selbie received top billing above the cowboy and his horse in hundreds of films. This is their story.
It was supposed to be a one-night stand. A couple of decades later, Ilene finds herself lying beside a middle-aged version of that same guy—now sporting a bald spot and nasal strip.
This memoir—a collection of essays and cartoons—is the diary of a relationship between a nice Jewish girl from Austin, Texas and an Arab-American, former altar boy from Waco. Together, they’ve negotiated dozens of religious holidays, hundreds of uninspired meals, years of home improvement, along with mental illness, travel, and a mutually agreeable definition of romance.
A little more Ricky and Lucy than Romeo and Juliet, the banter of this odd little pairing is a reflection upon relationships for people who’ve been together long enough to want to commit murder.
Jeffree Wyn Itrich
Murder, memories, and a quilt that ties it all together.
When Savannah Mae returns from her honeymoon to start married life on the ranch, her mother Emma stays behind to open a quilt retreat in their historic Waxahachie home. While preparing, Emma discovers a Grandmother’s Fan quilt stained with blood—evidence that it once comforted victims of an 1882 fire.
After Emma renovates the house with the help of charming contractor Jesse, her third retreat takes a dark turn when a guest is murdered. With business unraveling and danger closing in, Emma and Jesse race to piece together clues—from attic relics to ghostly whispers—before the killer silences Emma for good.
G.D. Obermiller
A cowboy turns up dead at the San Antonio Rodeo. Is it suicide or is it murder? Can one man uncover the truth behind the evil conspiracy before it’s too late?
On a crisp night in February, a young, wounded warrior turning his life around makes a record-setting bronc ride, flashes a smile, tips his hat, and is never seen alive again. The police find a pistol and an empty snuff can filled with painkillers. Written on the can is Nick Fischer’s name and number. Was it a cry for help—or was it murder?
Margaret Izard
Kat MacArthur still grieves her brother, lost to another time. Seeking solace, she reconnects with Ceallach, a Fae warrior she’s loved since the moment they met. Their bond deepens with every stolen moment—yet Ceallach warns her to stay away from the Gathering of the Iona Stones. Kat refuses. Her family stands at the heart of the prophecy, and she won’t abandon them—or him.
Bound by ancient magic and sworn to protect the Stones, Ceallach is torn between duty and a love that defies fate. The prophecy demands sacrifice, and he fears Kat may pay the price.
As dark forces rise to claim the Stones and their power, Ceallach must choose: defy destiny—or surrender to love.
Sherry Shindelar
Can love blossom between a woman haunted by her family’s past and a man with a war-scarred heart?
Cora Scott used to dream of falling in love. But the Texas frontier has scrubbed such notions out of her. She’s had enough of waiting on men who can’t be counted on. By the end of the war, she’s lost everyone except for her little brother.
Determined to hold onto the family land, she returns to her abandoned ranch, only to realize they can’t survive there on their own. When the dark-haired Yankee with haunted eyes shows up offering to help, she’s slow to respond. He’s a troubled man, and she’s had enough trouble. But her heart isn’t listening.
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 February:
CHILDREN'S, MIDDLE GRADE, & YOUNG ADULT BOOKS
The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff
The Fall of Iris Henley by Jennifer Graham
First Words Texas by Priddy Books
Heart’s Happy Adventure by Denise Castille & Chloe Castille
Here Come the Aunties! by Cynthia Leitich Smith
The Honor Society by Glenton Richards
Jensen Ackles: From Texas Dreamer to Supernatural Legend by Antoine Bellini
Love, Sivvy by R.L. Toalson
Mysterious Teacher: Songbird by Kailin Gow & Kira G.
Pick Your Own Quest: Your Best Friend is an Alien by Connor Hoover
Remember Her Name!: Debbie Allen’s Rise to Fame by Tami Charles
Safe-Harbor Paradox by Y.N. Bar-Lev
Some of Us Are Brave by Saadia Faruqi
The Traveling Tuxedo: Adventures in Houston by Melissa Coyle
Wild or Tame, I Love You the Same by Kailynn Klepfer
FANTASY / SCI-FI
Accused by Michael Anderle
Aiko’s Choice by Chase Gamwell
Aramis Station by Jaxon Reed
Blood & Bordeaux by Tabitha Slick
Blood and Secrets by Michael Anderle
A Book to Live By: Stories from a Different World by M.E. Proctor
External Rebellion by C.R. Rowenson & Michael Anderle
Feral and the Bad Decisions by Renée Jaggér & Michael Anderle
A Legacy Forged by Rose Garcia
The Librarian After The Apocalypse And The Book From Heaven by Brian Yansky
Midnight Tempo by Myunique C. Green
Righteous Neutrality by Michael Anderle
Snow White and the Seven Shades by Eve Pohler
Stolen Midnights by Katherine Quinn
Summoned by Michael Anderle
MYSTERY / HORROR
All the Rage by Erica J. Whelton
The Captor: Secondary Pact by D.J. McDowell
Catastrophic Brew by Erica J. Whelton
Cleanin’ Up by David Perkins
Crystal Clear Legacy by Leanne Leeds
Dark Texas by Charles J. Petrie Jr.
The Darkest Reflection by Nina Atwood
Dead First by Johnny Compton
Dead Reckoning by Susan Reed-Flores
A Deadly Plot by Karen MacInerery
Death by the Dozen by D.B. Borton
Death of a Porn Star by CW Hawes
Dollface by Lindy Ryan
The Hadacol Boogie by James Lee Burke
The Headless Horseman of South Texas by Paul Ramirez
Honey and Homicide by Erica J. Whelton
House of the Winged God by William Xavier Chandler
In His Wake by Chad Zunker
Killer CONnections by Nicole Leiren
The Lady and a Crazy Fire by Brittany E. Brinegar & J.E. Brinegar
Maple Ridge…Unsolved by Brittany E. Brinegar
Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones
Outflow by J.R. Tate
Plays With Fire by Carolyn L. Dean
Resilient Surrender by Peter M. Quint
Riddles, Rogues & Murder by Christa Nardi
Seared Revenge by Erica J. Whelton
Seminole Waters by Eric Chance Stone
Somebody, Sometime by Chris Kelsey
Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse Raven by Terri Higdon
Voice Thief by Jeff Kerr
NONFICTION
Autobiography of Cotton by Cristina Rivera Garza
Better Alone than Lost by Kay Johnson
The First Movie Studio in Texas by Kathryn Fuller-Seeley and Frank Thompson
Fleshing the Archive by María Eugenia Cotera
Hiking Through History: Hannibal, Highlanders & Joan of Arc by Kirk Ward Robinson
Mimi by Bill Wright
Progress Denied by Hollie A Teague
Rickwood by Tim Whitt and Joe Mock
Seat at My Table by Bryan J. Kaus
The Story of the Texas Rangers by Jim Whiting
Texas Quails edited by Leonard A. Brennan and Fidel Hernández
Texas Then and Now by William Dylan Powell
Walking in Grace by Pamela Porter
Wild Women for Good by Jennifer L. Bristol
OTHER FICTION
Beneath the Texas Sky by Larry B Litton Jr
The Candidate’s Betrayal by Traci Momie
Claire’s Story by Erica J. Whelton
Dan Burton: Texas Ranger: Scar of the Past by Robert Hanlon & Clem Mariotte
Encounters with Unexpected Animals by Bret Anthony Johnston
Even After This by Deborah Clack
The Fighting Earps by Nicholas Osborn
The Frontier Calls: Two Spirits, One Adventure by Mark Greathouse
Gunsmith Cats: Burst by Kenichi Sonoda
The Last Ride of the Dirty Creek Gang by William W. Johnstone & J.A. Johnstone
The Llano Estacado: The Great Plains of Texas 1676 by Zane Causey
The Mural by Sidney Balman Jr
Piece of Shit Loser Scumbag: This is Not a Memoir by Matt Micheli
Remembering the Storm by Lucy Davila Hakemack
Seven Ride For Gold by Robert Hanlon
Shoot or Cut Bait by William W. Johnstone & J.A. Johnstone
Superfan by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
The Tale of Heater, Texas by Lance Von Prum
Texas Tales: Dust And Dreams by A.K. Vyas
Timber: U.S. Marshal: Buried Men Learn by Robert Hanlon
Timber: U.S. Marshal: Gentry Curse by Robert Hanlon
Timber: U.S. Marshal: Old Sins Burn by Robert Hanlon
Wilde: United States Bounty Hunter: Balance Of Blood by Robert Hanlon
With Love from Harlem by ReShonda Tate
POETRY
The Plural of Water by Bruce Bond
A Voice of Visions by Christine Kohler
ROMANCE
Accidental Runaway Groom by Carrie Ann Ryan
Accidentally Marrying the Billionaire by Kat Baxter
All for Arabella by Laylah Roberts
The Alpha’s Sold Omega by Kayla Wolf
Bachelor 11: The Broken Quarterback by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle
Beast Business by Ilona Andrews
The Biker’s Beloved by Nat Logan
Blended Hearts by Katrina Marie
A Bond of Choice by Stephanie Duley
Breaking Point by Jennifer D. Bokal
The Captain by Day Leclaire
Cash by Liz Isaacson
Crossfire Creek Vendetta by Delores Fossen
Dancing in Dingle by Katharine E. Hamilton
Deadly Currents by Elizabeth Goddard
Deadly Devotion by Matilda Martel
Dust Traces Never Fade by Sai Marie Johnson
The Endgame Track by Brittany Wilson
The Enemy of Time by Haley-Grace McCormick
Even if We Last by Molly Barlowe
February’s Cowboy Dawson by Eve London
Feels Like Home by Linda Barrett
Forever Freefall by Ginny Sterling
Fortune’s Priceless Cowboy by Elizabeth Hrib
From Fantasy to Reality by Carolyn Brown
Glass Hearts by Skye Turner
Her Cowboy Protector by Sasha Summers
Her Second Chance in Texas by Emma Ashwood
The Hockey Situation by Lyra Parish
Hollow Kingdom by Shana Galen
How To Tell If Your K-9 Is A Demon by Trista Ricketts
Hunt Me Softly by Raven Flanagan
Hunting Truth by Mary Alford, Katy Lee & Terry Toler
Keeping You by S.E. Dymek
Lilly’s February Love by Kelly Irvin
A Little Lipstick Wouldn’t Hurt by Indie Sparks
Locked Up by a Texas Kingpin by Ky West
The Love Equation by Meg Benjamin
Love and Let Fly by Kelly Cain
Love at First Con-Flict by Janet Leigh
Love Binds by Cynthia St. Aubin
Love Me Not by Monique Shepherd
Love, Unfiltered by Katie LeGrand
Maverick’s Prince Charming by Stella Bagwell
Meet Me in Rojo by Cee Bowerman
Misconduct in Miami by Aven Ellis
Never Fall for Your Fake Husband by Hazel Belle
Only Theirs by Kennedy L. Mitchell
The Pastor’s Easter Prayer by Tina Radcliffe
The Rancher Rejects Her Heart by Marian Tee
The Real Ones by J Rose Black
Refuge in Laurel Valley by Liliana Hart
Scales and Steel by Amy Campbell
The SEAL’s Fake Fiancee by Wanda Amard
Season of Seduction by Chasity Lee
Set the Record Straight by Erin Olivier
Shot Through the Heart by Liberty Parker
Stranded with the Ex-Military Mountain Man by Macy West
Stupid Cupid by Darlene Tallman
Suddenly Yours by Jill Sanders
Sugar, Spite & Everything Nice by
Rowdy Rooksy
Taming Lady Temperance by Karen Witemeyer
Tangled Past by Mary Alford
Texas Charade by Peggy McKenzie
A Texas Easter Blessing by Mindy Obenhaus
A Texas Soldier’s Vow by Julie Benson
This Ain’t Our First Rodeo by Liara Tamani
Thorn Kiss by Clio Evans
To Love and Disobey by Mardi Maxwell
Unlawful Desires by Kelly Fox
The Unnoticed Lady the Duke Chose by Dorothy Sheldon
An Urgent Kiss by Alexa Aston
Valentine for the Bad Dragon by Julia Mills
Valentine for the Boss Bear by Melanie James
Valentine for the Doting Demon by TJ Bell
Valentine for the Lone Wolf by C.D. Gorri
A Very Grumpy Roommate by Shaw Hart
Vowed to the Vulture God by Ruby Dixon
When the Land Answers by Ann Smith
A Widow’s Faith, A Marshal’s Heart by Shania Thorne
Wild Ride by Melissa Belle