Friday Finds | August 7, 2026
Summer reading meets garden-fresh flavors in this week's Friday Finds, featuring two memorable book reviews, Mark J. Engels Behind the Book, a fresh corn and tomato salad, vintage herb markers, and more.
Summer reading meets garden-fresh flavors in this week's Friday Finds, featuring two memorable book reviews, Mark J. Engels Behind the Book, a fresh corn and tomato salad, vintage herb markers, and more.
Surviving Summer Camp by Paul Breau combines sibling chaos, wilderness danger, kid-friendly humor, and clever problem-solving in a fast-paced middle-grade adventure that's especially well suited to reluctant readers ages 8-12.
Urban fantasy author Mark J. Engels takes readers behind the scenes of his Forest Exiles Saga, revealing how a remote engineering assignment, a lifelong love of anime and anthropomorphic storytelling, and one persistent werecat named Pawly became the foundation of his completed three-book saga. In this Behind the Book feature, Mark shares the real-life experiences, family influences, and personal passions that shaped his unforgettable characters and world.
Bobbie Bin's Busy Day by Rina Croft is a charming children's picture book celebrating community helpers, hard work, and the everyday heroes who keep our communities running. Read my full review to discover why it's a wonderful choice for families, classrooms, and young readers.
When the storyteller becomes part of the story...
The Missing Episode
by Tom Hobbs is far more than a twist-filled thriller. It explores guilt, public scrutiny, and the cost of telling other people's stories while delivering a compelling cold-case mystery. Read my full review on GinaRaeMitchell.com.
Discover this week's Friday Finds featuring Nancy Fraser as the Featured Author Spotlight, reviews of Dragonslayer's Valkyrie and Sounds Like Trouble to Me, a cozy blackberry crumble muffin recipe, a beautiful tea-inspired Featured Find, and this week's Reader Question. Whether you're searching for your next great read or a quiet moment to savor, there's something waiting for you in this week's edition.