Suspicious Delivery by Terry Overton

 Suspicious Delivery

About the Book

Book: Suspicious Delivery: Finley Burke Mysteries Book 2

Author: Terry Overton

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Release Date: May 9, 2026

When an unclaimed express delivery vanishes from Cozy’s Coffee Shop in Sunset Cove, Finley Burke expects a simple explanation. What she gets instead is a mystery stitched together with rare books, resurfacing secrets, and people who aren’t who they claim to be. As Finley follows the trail, she realizes the missing package is connected to a past that refuses to stay buried—and to a crime that may have been planned long before the delivery ever arrived.

Old relationships resurface with new motives, and long-awaited reunions reveal fractures that run deeper than blood. With each clue, Finley edges closer to the truth, closer to danger, and closer to someone determined to keep secrets hidden.

In Sunset Cove, what’s been buried longest often carries the highest price.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Terry Overton is a retired university professor of educational and school psychology. She has an Ed.D. in Special Education and a Ph.D. in Psychology.  Her professional experience includes teaching public school, teaching at the university level, and being a college dean.  She has two children, seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.

Her previous writing and publication experiences include textbook and journal articles in the fields of special education and school psychology. She now seeks to answer God’s call to share the good news and grow the church by writing Christian books and devotionals.

Over the years, Terry’s books have won the Mom’s Choice Award, Christian Indie Award, Firebird Book Awards, American Writing Winner Awards, Bookfest Winner Awards, Pencraft Award, Reader Views Silver Reviewers Award, and International Book Award Finalist. Her writing examines real world events with a Christian worldview. She enjoys writing for young children, middle grade readers, YA fiction, and adult level novels.

More from Terry

The setting for this cozy mystery setting is a place called Sunset Cove. About two years ago, I relocated to the actual place! A small cove on Eagle Mountain Lake in Northwest section of Fort Worth Texas.

For more than twenty-years, I lived on the coast of Texas. Moving inland I knew I had to live near water, and Sunset Cove is the perfect place! My house (which is Finley’s lakeside cottage) is next to the cove, woods, and a creek that runs down into the cove.

After a few weeks in this new setting, the characters of Finley Burke, Birdie, Amelia, and Lynn just came into my writer’s mind and the series began!

I happen to live within the city limits of Fort Worth but this tiny patch near the cove is another small world with a handful of neighbors I have come to know. Not only is this setting “off the beaten path,” but we have foxes, alligators, herons, large barred-owls, racoons, armadillos, coyotes, and a host of birds and insects.  Some of these animals make appearances in the plot of the Finley Burke Mysteries,

The main character, Finley Burke, is a retired university psychology professor who specialized in forensic psychology. Following her move to Sunset Cove, she earns the reputation for being an amateur sleuth who can assist police and detectives in solving local crimes. Each of her sidekicks have unique and often quirky personalities and they all contribute to solving the mysteries of Sunset Cove.

My Thoughts

Pack your curiosity—we’re heading back to Sunset Cove, Texas, where Finley Burke and her clever friends have more mysteries to unravel! Suspicious Delivery by Terry Overton reunites readers with a delightful, inquisitive bunch who feel real enough to be neighbors in my own village. Finley’s past gives her a knack for fitting the pieces together and seeing the bigger picture, while each friend brings a useful skill and an enthusiasm for sleuthing.

I had fun tagging along as they gathered clues and asked questions. What I especially enjoyed was their easy camaraderie; whether they’re tackling a mystery or sharing a meal, they make a wonderful team. Suspicious Delivery is the second book in the Finley Burke Mysteries series. Although it can be read as a standalone, I recommend enjoying this charming series in order. Come for the curious cases and stay for the company of Finley and her friends!

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Terry is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card. Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click here or the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/AvOJc/suspicious-delivery-celebration-tour-giveaway

Ready to stir up a little mystery and a whole lot of reading fun? Suspicious Delivery is available on Amazon, along with Dockside Secrets, the first book in The Finley Burke Mysteries. The next installment in this charming series, Missing Legacy, arrives on November 17—another date for your reading calendar! Before you go, be sure to enter the giveaway: one lucky winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. Then pop back on Thursday, November 12, for Rituals and Rolling Pins, the long-awaited eleventh installment in A Magical Bakery Mystery series. Keep your bookmarks handy and your appetite for mystery ready—there’s more bookish fun on the menu!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 7

Book Looks by Lisa, November 8

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 9

Lights in a Dark World, November 9

Leslie’s Library Escape, November 10

The Avid Reader, November 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 12

Texas Book-aholic, November 13

For Him and My Family, November 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 15

A Texas cafe (the ceiling is fun)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 16

Vicky Sluiter, November 17

Simple Harvest Reads, November 18 (Guest Review from Donna)

Mary Hake, November 18

Holly’s Book Corner, November 19

Lily’s Corner, November 20

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

A Second Chance to Remember by Leslie Gould

 

A Second Chance to Remember

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Second Chance to Remember by Leslie Gould, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Second Chance to Remember 
Series: Letters from Lancaster County 
Author: Leslie Gould 
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers 
Release Date: November 17, 2026 
Genre: Contemporary Amish Romance

From bestselling author Leslie Gould comes a warm and lighthearted Amish romance where an unlikely correspondence opens the door to a second chance at love. 

After losing her beloved husband, Grace Conley is certain her heart will never heal. The Mennonite mother of three pours herself into raising her children, managing her Ohio farm, tending her late husband's beehives, and fostering her small honey business. Romance feels like a chapter ended--until a letter arrives that changes everything. 

Through her husband's old beekeepers' circle letter, Grace connects with Michael Stoll, an Amish widower from Lancaster County she's never met. His words mirror her own grief, and their phone conversations become the highlight of her week. Michael's quiet strength and devotion to his three children stir something that Grace thought she'd buried forever. But doubts creep in about their religious differences and lingering grief. Will a leap of faith help Grace and Michael discover that love can come twice in a lifetime?  

"Gould expertly builds the relationship between her leads, blending gently comedic moments with emotional depth. . . . This charms."--Publishers Weekly on The Shop Down the Lane  

A sweet second chance romance and perfect book club pick for fans of Beverly Lewis, Wanda Brunstetter, Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, and Amish fiction with big-hearted widowed and single parent characters set in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Baker Publishing Group | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series

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About the Author

Leslie Gould is a Christy Award-winning and #1 bestselling author of more than fifty novels, including multiple Amish fiction series. She holds a bachelor's degree in history and an MFA in creative writing. She enjoys church history, research trips, and hiking in the Pacific Northwest. She and her husband live in Portland, Oregon, and have four adult children and two grandchildren. Learn more at LeslieGould.com.

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My Thoughts

Sometimes a heartfelt letter can open the door to a hopeful new chapter. In A Second Chance to Remember, Leslie Gould weaves a heartfelt story of family, faith, and the courage to embrace healing and love after loss. Gould’s engaging writing style and relatable characters drew me in, and I especially felt for Grace Conley and Michael Stoll. Both have lost their spouses and are trying to move forward while caring for young children. Having lost someone I love, I know how difficult that journey can be, and I can only imagine the added challenges of helping little ones through their grief. Grace and Michael must decide whether they are ready to open their hearts again, knowing the pain that can come with loving someone deeply. 

I appreciated the glimpse into the similarities and differences between Amish and Mennonite life, as well as the reminder that written correspondence is still alive and well. The letters offer helpful information, nurture friendships, and plant the seeds of a closer relationship. This third installment in the Letters from Lancaster County series is my favorite so far. Although it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the books in order. With heartfelt letters and the promise of a fresh start, A Second Chance to Remember offers a lovely reminder that hope can find its way back into a healing heart.

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Excerpt

Just before Annie reached her, Jodi laughed and turned away.

“Uh-oh,” Grace said, sliding Levi back into Eve’s arms. “Jodi has that look in her eyes.”

Her expression said she was about to run. Jodi could be sweet and compliant—until

she wasn’t.

Grace hurried through the back door and down the steps as Jodi started running toward the crab apple tree. She reached the lawn as Jodi began to scream. As she turned toward the girls, Grace anticipated that Jodi had fallen, but she hadn’t. She stood under the crab apple tree, a high-pitched, feral noise coming out of her that sounded like pain mixed with fear. Annie ran toward Grace, yelling, “I didn’t do anything to her!”

Grace began running, calling out, “Do you know what happened?”

“A bee stung her,” Annie whimpered. “On her neck.”

Grace passed Annie, trying to remember if Jodi had been stung before. Annie had, when she was a toddler. It had been traumatic, but she had a normal reaction. It had been more of a scare than anything else.

As she reached the tree, Grace bent to look at where Jodi had been stung. Her neck was already red and swollen. And her face was blotchy. Were those hives?

Grace froze for a moment, but then she lifted Jodi into her arms and ran for the house.

“Come on, Annie!” Grace had a childhood friend who was allergic to bees. She knew

the signs.

By the time she reached the staircase, Eve was on the deck, calling down, “What’s wrong?”

“Bee sting.” Grace gasped for air as she spoke. “She’s allergic.”

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Bookshop.org gift card and a print copy of each book in the series: The Shop Down the Lane, When They Met Again, and A Second Chance to Remember!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 9, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 16, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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A little buzz, a touch of lavender, and a new story to fall in love with—what could be sweeter? Leslie Gould’s A Second Chance to Remember is available on Amazon, along with the first two books in the Letters from Lancaster County series. Follow Leslie on Amazon to receive notifications when she releases a new book! If you enjoy Letters from Lancaster County series, check out the heartwarming The Sisters of Lancaster County series. Don't forget to enter the giveaway before you depart!  On Wednesday, November 11, I’m  delighted to be a stop on the Celebrate Lit Blog Tour for Suspicious Delivery by Terry Overton—and there’s a wonderful giveaway to check out. Until next time, may your days bloom with joy and your next read be as sweet as honey!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

The Christmas Dinner Murder by Sarah Dunnakey

The Christmas Dinner Murder

Book Summary

Put your wits to the test in this festive crime novel stuffed with puzzles!

Renowned puzzler Audrey Peppertree is hosting a luxurious Christmas party in her famous manor. Her invitation was a playful riddle, but one RSVP was returned anonymously, with an ominous threat.

Put your wits to the test in this festive crime novel stuffed with puzzles!

Fearing for her life, Audrey asks her old friend Eloise Dodd – a retired bodyguard – to join the dinner and work out which of her guests could be hungry for revenge. But by the end of the evening, will Audrey's goose be cooked?

Trapped by storms and scared for their lives, the diners find themselves taunted with more cryptic games. It seems the arrogant killer likes to play with their food.

But if you put all of the puzzle answers together, they will lead to the solution of the crime… Can you beat the detectives to work out Whodunnit?

Including 25+ original puzzles devised by Mastermind- and University Challenge- quiz creator Sarah Dunnakey, this is the perfect gift for fans of Murdle, Ludwig, and Agatha Christie.

My Thoughts

Deck the halls and sharpen your pencils—this Christmas mystery comes wrapped in clues! The Christmas Dinner Murder by Sarah Dunnakey is an inventive, interactive whodunit with all the pieces in place for a closed-circle mystery: a remote manor, a Christmas dinner, guests trapped by a storm, and a threatening RSVP from an anonymous sender. Leading the sleuthing are Audrey Peppertree, a renowned puzzler, and Eloise Dodd, a recently retired bodyguard. 

Both are likable, intriguing characters who share a love of puzzles. I especially enjoyed how the brainteasers fit naturally into the plot, inviting me to crack the clues and piece together the mystery alongside the detectives. A sprinkling of humor keeps the mood light, while the atmospheric setting adds to the festive fun. That extra layer of challenge was a treat for the puzzle solver in me. For a Christmas read with more to unravel than ribbons, this clever mystery fits the bill!

Let’s wrap up the week with a little Christmas mystery and a dash of Thanksgiving cheer! The Christmas Dinner Murder is available from Amazon. Meanwhile, I’m busy bringing some seasonal charm to my front yard with Thanksgiving decorations. There are so many cute options, though I haven’t been able to find a Thanksgiving inflatable that moves (goes up and down or rotates). I’ll be back on Tuesday, November 10, with A Second Chance to Remember by Leslie Gould, the third book in the Letters from Lancaster County series. Until then, may your weekend be filled with cozy chapters and a generous helping of holiday cheer!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Chasing Daniel's Daughter by Mindy Steele

 Chasing Daniel's Daughter

Book Summary

After a storm destroyed her family's home, Martha Jane Raber was certain Aiden would rush back to Miller’s Creek to be with her. While waiting to become his wife, M.J. offers to help a friend learn to read. As the season blooms around Miller’s Creek, M.J. grows more determined than ever to get her own happy-ever-after.

If Sam Lewis could change one thing about himself, it would be the smudge on his last name. Taking a job with Daniel Raber might have cost him, but he soon discovers a new friendship with a woman who speaks to rainclouds and roosters. Being only her friend while she pines over another takes some strength, but Sam knows his place. That was, until M.J. disappears and Sam has no choice but to chase after the miller’s daughter.

My Thoughts

A heartwarming return to Miller’s Creek awaits in Chasing Daniel’s Daughter by Mindy Steel! Martha Jane Raber is eager for her happily ever after, and I had been looking forward to M.J.’s story—it did not disappoint. Steel’s warm, engaging writing brings this charming community to life, with thoughtful M.J. and unpretentious gentleman Sam at the heart of the story. The wonderful cast of characters adds even more sparkle to a tale filled with courage, love, friendship, acceptance, and faith. 

Along the way, it will make you smile, laugh often, frown with concern, and perhaps shed a tear or two. Chasing Daniel’s Daughter is the third book in the Daniel’s Daughters series. Although it can be read as a standalone, I recommend enjoying this delightful series in order. This uplifting visit to Miller’s Creek closed on a lovely note and left me smiling long after the final page.

There’s always room for one more book on the reading pile! Chasing Daniel’s Daughter is available from Amazon, along with the first two books in the Daniel's Daughters series. Looking ahead, Mindy Steele’s Holding the Reins, the fifteenth novel in The Heart of the Amish series, comes out January 15. I’ll be back on Thursday, November 5, with The Christmas Dinner Murder by Sarah Dunnakey. Until then, happy reading—may your next chapter be a delightful escape!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

A Classic Case of Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber

 

A Classic Case of Murder

 

A Classic Case of Murder (A Literary Dining Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber

About A Classic Case of Murder

 

A Classic Case of Murder

Cozy Mystery 

3rd in A Literary Dining Mystery series

Setting – North Carolina 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies 

Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 27, 2026 

Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages

 

Personal chef and caterer Allie Catt combines her love of fiction with her love of food in the scenic North Carolina mountains—but amid her latest themed event, based on Dickens’s beloved classic, A Christmas Carol, a rare-book expert’s goose is cooked…

In the charming town of Bramblewood, not far from Asheville, Allie’s preparing for a special seasonal soiree: a literary-themed dinner party that’s a tribute to Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. It’ll take place at the Amber Lantern, the quaint inn recently opened by her best friend’s mother, Noeline—and the holiday spirit has even led a Scroogelike local businessman to lend his prized first edition of the nineteenth-century novella for the event.

With the voices of carolers ringing in the air and the community theater staging a special performance, it looks like it will be a happy Christmas—until the priceless book disappears and someone murders the expert who authenticated it. And if the police have their way, Allie’s lawyer friend Freddy will be dragged away in chains like Marley’s ghost…

The crime has also cast a shadow over Noeline’s fledgling business, so Allie feels doubly obliged to find the real killer among the gathered guests and local visitors—and put an end to this nightmare. It’s time to investigate them all, every one . . .

About Daryl Wood Gerber

Daryl Wood Gerber is the Agatha Award-winning and nationally bestselling author of the Literary Dining Mysteries, Aroma Wellness Mysteries, Fairy Garden Mysteries and Cookbook Nook Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes suspense novels, including the well-received Accidental Murder, The Son’s Secret, Girl on the Run, and the popular Aspen Adams trilogy. Daryl has published a standalone Christmas romance, Hope for the Holidays, a mystery anthology, and a children’s illustrated rhyming book. Fun Tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, garden, read, and walk her frisky Goldendoodle. Also she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. You can learn more on her website: https://darylwoodgerber.com

Author Links

WEBSITE: https://darylwoodgerber.com 

FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/darylwoodgerber 

BOOKBUB: https://bookbub.com/authors/daryl-wood-gerber

YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/woodgerb1

INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/darylwoodgerber

GOODREADS: https://goodreads.com/darylwoodgerber

TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@daryl_wood_gerber

AMAZON: https://bit.ly/Daryl_Wood_Gerber_page 

NEWSLETTER: https://darylwoodgerber.com/contact-media/

My Thoughts

Deck the halls, gather the suspects, and prepare for a delightfully Dickensian mystery! In A Classic Case of Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber, Allie Catt is ready to cry “Bah, humbug!” when a man is murdered during her Charles Dickens–themed A Christmas Carol literary dinner. Light, festive, and character-driven, the story weaves its literary theme throughout, with passages from A Christmas Carol opening each chapter and references to Dickens’s life and works adding fascinating historical tidbits. The mystery offers a merry surplus of suspects—excuse me, guests—and everyone seems to have a motive, leaving them quick to point fingers. Allie and her friend Tegan must work quickly to solve the crime before it sinks the Amber Lantern. 

With a sizable cast, the character list at the beginning is especially helpful, while the delectable treats Allie bakes for her clients are sure to make mouths water. As the third installment in the Literary Dining Mysteries, the book can be enjoyed as a standalone, though reading the series in order provides a richer introduction to the characters, town, and featured literary classics. Brimming with holiday charm, tempting culinary delights, colorful characters, and a satisfying small-town puzzle, A Classic Case of Murder serves up a cozy Christmas mystery worth raising a cup of cheer to!

Pull up a chair for an A Christmas Carol literary dinner—where the holiday spirit is on the menu and mystery is the uninvited guest! A Classic Case of Murder is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Kobo, and Mysterious Galaxy. For another helping of bookish mystery, check out the first two books in the A Literary Dining Mystery series: Murder on the Page and Murder by the Millions. Ready for a little giveaway cheer? You could win your choice of Murder on the Page or Murder by the Millions, plus a $15 gift card to Bookshop.org. Enter using the form below (scroll to the bottom) or click here to go directly to the entry form. Good luck! I’ll return on Wednesday, November 4, with Chasing Daniel's Daughter by Mindy Steele, the third book in the Daniel's Daughters series. Until then, may your reading be merry, your literary dinners delicious, and your mysteries delightfully twisty!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Tour Participants

October 26 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT 

October 26 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

October 27 – Romance Novel Giveaways – SPOTLIGHT 

October 27 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW 

October 28 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

October 28 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - REVIEW 

October 29 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST 

October 30 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW 

October 30 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 

October 31 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT 

October 31 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 

November 1 - Sarandipity's – SPOTLIGHT 

November 1 - Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT 

November 2 - Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT 

November 3 – Caboodle of Cozies – REVIEW 

November 3 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 

November 4 – Twirling Book Princess – RECIPE 

November 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW 

November 5 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT 

November 5 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST 

November 6 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW 

November 7 – Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT 

November 8 – Salty Inspirations – SPOTLIGHT

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.