🍋 Friday Finds – 1 August 2025 | Indie Author C.S. McDonald, Bookish Fun, Lemonade Cupcakes & Crafts

Welcome to the 1 August edition of Friday Finds—where summer sweetness meets bookish joy!

I’m so excited to kick off a fresh new month with my brand-new lemonade stand theme. You’ll find everything from cozy mysteries and powerful fiction to cupcake recipes and DIY crafts—all with a dash of sunshine and a whole lot of heart.

This week, I’m featuring one of my longtime favorite indie authors, C.S. McDonald, whose cozy mysteries have charmed my readers time and again. Keep scrolling for book highlights, giveaways, reader questions, and a few delightful extras to savor.

I’m spotlighting an independent author each week this summer.

Meet C.S. McDonald—former dance teacher turned cozy mystery queen! After 26 years of choreographing shows, Cindy traded in her dance shoes for the written word, and we’re all the better for it. She now lives on a Thoroughbred farm near Pittsburgh with her husband, their mischievous Cocker Spaniel Allister, and yes—George the Pony is real (and adorable).

Her Fiona Quinn Mysteries, Owl’s Nest Mysteries, and delightful short stories are charming, witty, and always a good time, especially when brought to life on Audible by narrator Maren Swenson Waxenberg.

📚 I’ve reviewed many of Cindy’s books over the years—you can browse my thoughts here.

Visit C.S. McDonald here:

Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Amazon   |  Goodreads   |   Storygraph

📚 Weekly Book Blog Roundup |1 August 2025 

“As part of Friday Finds 1 August 2025, this week’s book blog roundup includes interviews, giveaways, and some must-read new releases.”

Suffer Not the Mole People by Jan Notzon

A powerful historical novel about the psychological cost of immigration, cultural identity, and intergenerational survival.

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Bad Grains by Susanne Schmidt 

A chilling middle-grade fantasy that earned 4th place in the 2024 BBNYA competition. Blending German folklore, sibling bonds, and Halloween horror, this unforgettable tale follows Jo as she races to save her brother from a monster lurking beneath the rye fields.

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Legacy of Honor: The Descendants by Larry A. Freeland

A gripping tale of three brothers, three wars, and one unbreakable family legacy. A must-read for fans of historical military fiction, patriotism, and sacrifice.

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Christmas Watch by Petie McCarty

Get swept into a small-town Christmas romance with suspense, danger, and a touch of the paranormal. With a child who claims to speak to Watchers and a hostage crisis looming, this second-chance romantic thriller offers holiday chills, heartfelt moments, and heavenly twists. Win a $10 gift card!

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The Grateful Green Dinosaur by Larissa Pemberton

A heartwarming children’s book about gratitude, positive thinking, and emotional growth. Join Percy the dinosaur and his unicorn friend Custard as they turn a bad day into a celebration of thankfulness. Perfect for preschoolers, classrooms, and bedtime reading. $10 gift card available.

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Child of a Swan by David Burnett

Follow one young woman’s powerful journey to break free from family expectations, navigate teen pregnancy, and claim her independence. Includes excerpt + $20 gift card giveaway!

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Answer this week’s question in the comments for a chance to win the monthly prize!
One lucky commenter from any August 2025 Friday Finds post will be randomly selected to win a surprise gift.

 🗓️ Entries close August 28 at 5:00 p.m. (CST). Winner announced September 5! 

📚 This Week's Under-the-Radar Gem

📘 The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley – “A time-traveling civil servant. A 19th-century polar explorer. One very inconvenient romance.”
💬 Why I’m recommending it: This debut is wildly original—part speculative fiction, part love story, part bureaucratic satire. It’s quirky and brilliant in that Emily St. John Mandel meets Douglas Adams kind of way. If you like literary sci-fi with heart, this is one to catch. It's won a ton of awards in 2024 and 2025!

🍴 Foodie Fun - Cupcakes

Since this is the first week I've used the Lemonade Stand Friday Finds graphics, how about trying a Lemonade Cupcake recipe?

These delightful summery cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting from MyCakeSchool.com are:

• Simple to make
• Light and fruity with a hint of tartness
• Great for a special occasion or just because!

🍋 Craft Corner – Lemonade Lane Mini Houses

This week’s craft is a cheerful little village of lemon-themed homes you can paint and assemble yourself! I picked this adorable DIY kit from SimplyStacey on Etsy—how cute are those sugar cubes on the pitcher house? It’s the perfect companion project for lemonade cupcakes and summer reads.

🎨 Easy enough for beginners and fun for a cozy afternoon at home. Bonus: it's Etsy affiliate-friendly, so you’ll be supporting handmade shops and this blog.

Lemon Standing Houses DIY Kit

Thanks so much for hanging out at the Friday Finds Lemonade Stand! Whether you stopped by for a new book to love, a summer treat to bake, or a cute craft to try—I hope something here made your day brighter.

✨ Don’t forget to answer this week’s summer treat trivia question in the comments for a chance to win this month’s giveaway!
📌 Bookmark this post or save it on Pinterest so you can come back to explore the links (and that cupcake recipe) later.
☕ Love what I do? You can always support the blog via Ko-fi or just by sharing your favorite finds with a friend.

See you next week for more indie author spotlights, giveaways, and fresh-from-the-stand fun.

💛 Gina

📌 Save this Friday Finds post to your favorite Pinterest board—perfect for when you need weekend reads, indie author gems, or a pie recipe!

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#BookSky  💙📚

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