The 26 May 2023 Friday Finds are here with a new Author of the Week, Recommendations for your long-weekend reading, partying, and creative endeavors.
Hello, my friends & welcome to the 26 May 2023 Friday Finds!
It’s been a great week around the farm. The garden, flowers, and new shrubs are planted. Now, we move on to fighting the battles with drought…and, of course, the deer and raccoons. The raccoons completely wiped out the carrot crop and the planter they were growing in last night. Usually, the fight doesn’t start until the sweet corn is up, but they are extra destructive this year.
The lack of rain has gone on for about nine months. We have been well below average long enough that we hauled water in for the first time in thirty-six years. We’ll use it for watering plants and topping off the pool, so we don’t have to tax the well that provides the house with water. You know it’s getting bad when the nightly local news features the drought monitor every night.
But enough doom & gloom. Let’s talk about fun stuff!
School is wrapping up for the grandkids. My great-nephew (who is like my grandson) graduated high school last weekend. My granddaughter finished eighth grade & will be moving to the high school in the fall. Another is heading to Junior High, and even the littlest will be heading to Pre-K. How in the world are they growing so fast? I cherish every moment with them.
I’ve family coming in soon to start the summer visits, pool parties, water-gun fights, and cookouts. This is my favorite time of year!
Well, I should let you get on to the great “finds” this week. I hope you enjoy them!
Peace & Love
Notes: I will share purchase links on all recommended items if possible. Every purchase made through my links helps support this blog.
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Friday Finds | 26 May 2023 | Author News
Do you have a new book releasing soon, a special promotion coming up, or any other news I can share with my readers?
In the reported book and author news this week…
Jessica Adams is participating in a Summer Learning Giveaway until May 29th.
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Ailish Sinclair is my newest featured author. Her latest book is set in 1st-century Northern Scotland. SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a story of chosen sisters, fierce warriors, divided loyalties, and, ultimately, love.
Ailish Sinclair trained as a dancer and taught dance for many years before working in schools to help children with special needs. A short stint as a housekeeper in a castle fired her already keen interest in untold stories of the past, and she sat down to research and write.
She now lives beside a loch with her husband and two children, where she still dances and writes and eats rather a lot of chocolate.
Please welcome Ailish to the website (on the sidebar & in this post) by visiting their website & of course, reading my review as soon as I’ve finished. I can’t decide which I love most, her photography or her stories.
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Friday Finds | 26 May 2023 | Books
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Next to impossible to put down . . . exciting, mysterious, and totally satisfying.”—STEPHEN KING
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Passage comes a riveting standalone novel about a group of survivors on a hidden island utopia—where the truth isn’t what it seems.
Founded by the mysterious genius known as the Designer, the archipelago of Prospera lies hidden from the horrors of a deteriorating outside world. In this island paradise, Prospera’s lucky citizens enjoy long, fulfilling lives until the monitors embedded in their forearms, meant to measure their physical health and psychological well-being, fall below 10 percent. Then they retire themselves, embarking on a ferry ride to the island known as the Nursery, where their failing bodies are renewed, their memories are wiped clean, and they are readied to restart life afresh.
Proctor Bennett, of the Department of Social Contracts, has a satisfying career as a ferryman, gently shepherding people through the retirement process—and, when necessary, enforcing it. But all is not well with Proctor. For one thing, he’s been dreaming—which is supposed to be impossible in Prospera. For another, his monitor percentage has begun to drop alarmingly fast. And then comes the day he is summoned to retire his own father, who gives him a disturbing and cryptic message before being wrestled onto the ferry.
The Ferryman: A NovelShop on Amazon
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Unladylike Lessons in Love: A Marleigh Sisters Novel (The Marleigh Sisters, 1) by Amita Murray
“Sizzling romance with a splash of intrigue.” —Julia Quinn
Amita Murray takes us on a journey from the pleasure gardens of society to the dangerous streets of 19th century London in this spectacular romantic debut by an unforgettable new voice.
“Women mind their reputation if they want to marry. I don’t want to marry.”
As the eldest daughter of an English earl and his Indian mistress, Lila Marleigh knows what it’s like to be an outsider from “polite” society. As children, she and her sisters were wrenched from their home and sent to England, never quite accepted by those who claimed to care for them. Now Lila has set herself up as hostess of an exclusive gaming club, charming the ton that flocks to her establishment each night, though it shuns her by day.
One night, Ivor Tristram comes barging through her door, accusing her of being his father’s mistress. Lila defies his expectations at every step and convinces him to navigate London’s rat pits and pleasure gardens with her in her quest to solve a violent crime.
As they set out together to uncover the truth, an irresistible passion ignites that will shake them to the core. Lila must fight to protect those she loves, yet the biggest threat is to the sanctity of the heart she has guarded so carefully all her life.
Unladylike Lessons in Love:...Shop on Amazon
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For fans of The Girls with No Names, The Silent Patient, and Girl, Interrupted, the New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan Collector blends fact, fiction, and the urban legend of Cropsey in 1970s New York, as mistaken identities lead to a young woman’s imprisonment at Willowbrook State School, the real state-run institution that Geraldo Rivera would later expose for its horrifying abuses.
Sage Winters always knew her sister was a little different, even though they were identical twins. They loved the same things and shared a deep understanding, but Rosemary—awake to every emotion, easily moved to joy or tears—seemed to need more protection from the world.
Six years after Rosemary’s death from pneumonia, Sage, now sixteen, still misses her deeply. Their mother perished in a car crash, and Sage’s stepfather, Alan, resents being burdened by a responsibility he never wanted. Yet despite living as near strangers in their Staten Island apartment, Sage is stunned to discover that Alan has kept a shocking secret: Rosemary didn’t die. She was committed to Willowbrook State School and has lingered there until just a few days ago when she went missing.
Sage knows little about Willowbrook. It’s always been a place shrouded by rumor and mystery. A place local parents threaten to send misbehaving kids. With no idea what to expect, Sage secretly sets out for Willowbrook, determined to find Rosemary. What she learns, once she steps through its doors and is mistakenly believed to be her sister, will change her life in ways she never could imagined . . .
The Lost Girls of Willowbro...Shop on Amazon
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Summer is for Cousins by Rajani LaRocca
From Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca comes a celebration of extended family and summertime fun.
Summer is for cousins.
Mom and Dad,
Two uncles, two aunties,
Thatha and Pati,
Seven cousins,
All of us are together.
Ravi can’t wait to spend summer vacation at the lake house with his family—especially his cousins! Summer vacation is for days at the beach, long hikes, paddleboarding, and—of course—ice cream. Ravi and his oldest cousin, Dhruv, had the same favorite flavor last year, but everything feels different now.
Dhruv’s much taller, and his voice is deeper. Ravi’s worried that Dhruv won’t be interested in spending time with him, the little cousin. The ice cream shop doesn’t even have their favorite flavor this year. But on the last night of vacation, the cousins decide to make dinner, and Ravi’s in charge of dessert. He only has one special thing in mind!
This picture book is all about summertime fun and celebrates the resilient bond between extended family members.
Summer Is for Cousins: A Pi...Shop on Amazon
Friday Finds | 26 May 2023 | Recipes
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Bacon Cheeseburger Potato Casserole- Kid Approved!
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Guilt-Free Peach Martini with Raspberries from FoodFaithFitness
Friday Finds | 26 May 2023 | Creative Projects
Make Your Own Bird Feeder & Wind Chime Kit- 2 Pack
I’m not sure those seeds will actually attract hummingbirds and bees…but you are sure to get many other seed-loving varieties. This is marketed for children & teens, but I know I would enjoy it, too.
Friday Finds | 26 May 2023 | Gina’s Blog Roundup
What are some of your favorite blogs to visit each week? I love surfing through an eclectic mix of blogs. It’s a rabbit hole I fall into frequently!
Here are a couple I enjoyed this week:
Fi’s BiblioFiles was great this week. Especially her talk of traveling through Belgium on a train.
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I was all over the place, genre-wise, this week. Click on the image or links below to see what I thought about them. Be sure you check out the giveaways, too; there are some great prizes this week! Looking for an older post? Click Here!
Horse To Water by Peter Bailey | Book Review ~ Gripping Police Procedural ~ 4-Stars
Dancing with Trees and Waving with Leaves by S.M. Jackson | 4.5 Star Children’s Book Review
Book Review: Finding Joy on Death Row: Unexpected Lessons from Lives We Discarded by Dewey Williams
What would you like to see in next week’s Friday Finds?
Thanks for reading this week. Peace & Love!
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Thank you so much for including the summer learning giveaway! Today was such a busy day I don’t have time to read your post but I’ll try to remember to come back tomorrow and read through it!
Thanks again and have a great weekend!
Wonder why raccoons want carrots in the first place? I thought they preferred dumpster diving!
Another amazing post, filled with temptations! I love your reviews, and hope to read a few of these some day!
Thank you so much 🙂
Hi Gina!
Glad to have opened this issue of Friday Finds. Sorry about the raccoons trashing your garden. Wish there was a shrub that could br planted around your garden to turn them off.
Congratulations to your great nephew on his high school graduation. That’s amazing.
I like the featured book by Ailish Sinclair. Sounds like a wonderful read. The peach-raspberry martini is really good. Would try it out.
Your summer activities sound like a lot of fun. Enjoy!!
Best
Chika.