Gina Rae Mitchell

 Friday Finds | 12-27-2024 | Holiday & End of Year Summary

Welcome to the Friday Finds for December 27, 2024! 🎄

Can you believe this is the last Friday Finds newsletter of 2024? It seems like the year went in fits and starts for me. I felt great and energized with so many plans, and alternately, I had days when I was so tired that I was ready to hang it all up and be “officially” retired.

I decided to continue because I love what I get to do every day. I read and talk about books with the “blog,” which is how I tend to refer to my readers. I try out new crafts and recipes and share my successes (and failures) with you. I also have a chance to promote and support independent authors. This is a project that is near and dear to my heart.

I got my official start in book reviewing by serving as a Beta reader for an independent author. I felt a real connection with her, and that relationship continued until her untimely passing. I realize that I may never be one of the big names in blogging, but I enjoy the feeling I get in my heart when I introduce readers to a new author. The indie author scene is a much more friendly, honest, and rewarding place to reside than competing to be among the tens of thousands to review a traditionally published author through one of the big houses.

For today’s post, I’m sharing a few highlights from the past year. Tomorrow is our last Holiday gathering, which will be here on the farm. We gather family and friends for a day of soups, sandwiches, and desserts. There will be board games and card games, with sports on the TV in the background. I’ll get to snuggle babies of all ages, and watch the grandkids play, making the most of their limited time together.

Any blog news and announcements are at the bottom of this post.

Until next year, peace, love, and holiday cheer! 💖

—Gina

Weekly Friday Finds | 12-27-2024 | Book Reviews

These were my website’s two most popular book reviews this year, as of 12-27-2024.

The Anchor by Kevin Doyle | #bookreview #mystery @goddessfish

Jen has toiled away in television news, just waiting for a big break. And at the same time she finally gets a shot at the promotion opportunity she’s waited years for, head anchor for the nightly newscast, an unseen, shadowy man is desperate for her to notice him. When messages and well wishes don’t do the trick, her mysterious admirer intends to do anything necessary to make Jen a success and snare her attention, even if it means attacking her fiancé and killing off her competition.

Amazon Affiliate links:  The Anchor by Kevin R. Doyle

Paperback     Kindle

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The Secret Cottage by Kate Ellington #HistoricalRomance #BookReview #Romance @GoddessFish

Isabel Tate yearns for the simple pleasures she took for granted before scandal rocked her family two years ago. She’s determined to forget her troubles and enjoy herself at the Claremont family’s annual May Day festival. Meanwhile, Robert Claremont steels himself to begin courting the haughty heiress next door, but his bashfulness is only one obstacle to winning her hand. Despite a deep sense of family obligation, he dreams of choosing his own bride.

Captivated by each other from the moment they meet, Robert and Isabel are kept apart by a misunderstanding until a chance encounter leads to friendship and more. With opposition on all sides, they must overcome inconceivable odds to claim happiness.

Amazon Affiliate Links: The Secret Cottage by Kate Ellington

Paperback     Kindle

Weekly Friday Finds | 12-27-2024 | Blog Posts

These were the two most popular non-book review posts for the past year .

Zoom Loom Weaving Tutorial – Beginner Level | Simple Instructions with Photos ~ Addictive Craft Technique

Pin loom weaving is a favorite craft of mine. I find it soothing, a quick-gratification project, extremely portable, and endlessly useful. This tutorial is on the 4-inch Schacht Zoom Loom. What a nifty little loom! The Zoom Loom is lightweight yet sturdy. I have made hundreds of squares with it, and it still looks as perfect as the day it came out of the box.

Learn more about the Zoom Loom.

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My Pin Loom Obsession!

I have a pin loom obsession. I freely admit this. Whether I can sell the end product or use it in another project doesn’t matter. I must keep making bookmarks, small coasters, large coasters, pattern work, plain weave & more.

Weekly Friday Finds | 12-27-2024 | Fun Time

For now, I plan to stick with fun questions instead of trivia-type ones. I’m not great at thinking up questions that aren’t easy to look up on Google, so let’s keep them fun and entertaining while we get to know each other a little better.

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? If so, do you keep them? If not, what do you do to mark a fresh start to the new year?

I no longer make “resolutions,” as I never follow through on them. I do, however, come up with a theme for what I want to focus on in the near future. This year, I’m going with ORGANIZE! Everything in my life needs better organization, from the house to the barns to the blog. Everything needs attention…like yesterday!

J. Adams won the last “Fun Time Drawing” of the year. I’ve been in contact with them about their prize. Leave your answer to this week’s question in the comments section for entry into the next drawing.

The lucky Independent Author is Eve Gaal. Eve will be featured on the sidebar of the website very soon. Keep an eye out for her smiling face.

Weekly Friday Finds | 12-27-2024 | Independent Author News

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Weekly Friday Finds | 12-27-2024| Recipes

These were some of the most talked about food items on the website last year.

Peanut Butter & Dill Pickle Sandwiches

Secret Ingredients in Your Recipes

Cool Whip Cookies

Remember, if you find something you like in this post, leave a comment and click the LIKE button at the bottom of the page. It means the world!

Please share the 12-27-2024 Friday Finds with your friends and family.

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If you are feeling exceptionally generous…donations are always welcome!

See you next year for more Friday Finds Fun!

Gina