🍎 Friday Finds - 26 September 2025: Indie Author  ~ Giveaways ~ Food ~ Crafts

👋 Welcome

Hello friends, and happy Friday! This week’s Friday Finds is brimming with cozy autumn vibes—perfect for the last full week of September. We’ve got an inspiring indie-author spotlight, a sizzling free-book deal, a can’t-miss recipe for football season, and a Halloween craft kit that’s pure creative magic. Grab a cup of something warm (apple cider, anyone?), settle in, and discover a few new favorites to brighten your weekend.

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The weekly independent author feature has been a huge hit, so I will continue it each week for now. I usually pull names from my list, but I also love receiving nominations! Tell me your favorite Indie Author on my website — you can find all my authors➡️HERE.

✒️ Friday Finds Author Spotlight: Petie McCarty

Let’s give a warm Friday Finds welcome to romance author Petie McCarty! Petie spent years creating magic at Walt Disney World—“The Most Magical Place on Earth”—and by night she spun her own romantic fairy tales. Eventually, she traded theme-park enchantment for the full-time joy of writing, and readers everywhere are the lucky ones.

Today, Petie delights fans with stories that range from the swoony Cinderella Romances to her intriguing Watchers paranormal-romantic-suspense series, time-traveling adventures in Lords in Time, and a shelf of sparkling standalones like Any Fin for Love and Ambush in the Everglades.

She now writes from her home on Tennessee’s scenic Cumberland Plateau, where she shares life with her horticulturist husband—who inspired details for Cinderella Busted—and Sassy, their opinionated Nanday conure who even makes a cameo in Christmas Watch.

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Connect with Petie
Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Pinterest | BookBub | LinkedIn | Twitter

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Here are my reviews and spotlights

Any Fin for Love

The Cinderella Romances by Petie McCarty | 3-Book Series + Guest Post 

Cowboy Watch (The Watchers Book 1)

Christmas Watch (The Watchers Book 2)

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📚 Weekly Book Blog Roundup | 18 September through 26  September 2025 

This week’s book blog roundup includes interviews, giveaways, and some must-read new releases. (Click on the image for more information, including raffle entry.)

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Travis E. Short’s Corners of My Mind delivers an unforgettable variety of American short stories—heart-warming, heart-breaking, and perfect for bedtime or commute reading. Each tale lingers long after the last page.

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Last week's Friday Finds Recap

In last week's Friday Finds, September 19, we celebrated indie author Tanith Davenport

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🌟 Indie Gem of the Week

Looking for a romantic adventure with a dash of mystery? Ivan Scott’s The Redhead and the Fountain Pen delivers a clever, heart-tugging tale about a woman, a writer, and the pen that just might change everything. It’s witty, a little mischievous, and perfect for readers who love discovering fresh indie voices.

👉 Read my review and see why this one belongs on your weekend TBR! I also have "The Redhead and The Frozen Four" on my list for this fall!

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🍴 Foodie Fun 26 September 2025

Since football season is now in full swing, I thought I would share a favorite tailgating recipe with you.

Best Football Dip Ever

Whether you are "tailgating" at the game or in your living room, this dip recipe is a crowd pleaser. It's very easy to make, works well in a crockpot, and tastes delicious. ( Please note: this recipe uses processed foods. If you don't use them, please be respectful of people who do.)

Ingredient List:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 (8-ounce) jar prepared salsa
• 1 (1-pound) loaf processed cheese food, sliced

This is the basic list. The recipe works great with all types of substitutions. Add your favorite seasonings, make it hotter or milder, swap sausage for the ground beef, or do a mix. Top with green onions or even shredded lettuce. Recipes that allow me to get creative are my favorites.

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🧶Craft Corner – Halloween Embroidery Kit

Halloween Embroidery Kit for Adults

This Halloween embroidery kit includes: 6-inch hoop, needles, colorful threads, a threader, a thimble, and instructions—perfect for beginners to pros to create fun Halloween crafts.

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🍎 Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks for spending part of your Friday with me! I love hearing what brings you joy, so don’t forget to share your September highlights in the comments for a chance to enter this week’s Fun Time Giveaway. If you enjoyed today’s finds—Petie McCarty’s enchanting romances, the game-day dip, or the Halloween embroidery inspiration—please pass the post along to a friend or pin it for later. Your shares and kind words keep this little corner of the internet thriving. Until next week, happy reading, happy crafting, and happy weekend!

Remember to subscribe so you’ll always get the weekly indie author, giveaways, recipes, and crafts.

Gina

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📌 Save this Friday Finds post to your favorite Pinterest board—perfect for when you need weekend reads, indie author gems, simple home-cooking recipes, and crafts.

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