Friday Finds for 24 June 2022 | The Giveaway Grows! + Indie Authors, Author News, Summer Recipes, Cricut, Amazon Prime, & Blog Roundup
Hello, my friends & welcome to the Friday Finds for 24 June 2022!
The amount for the 1000th Blog Post Raffle is climbing every day! I’m so excited about this one. When (not if) we hit 500 entries, I’m going to bump up the amount again! If the entries go even higher, so will the gift card amount. Make sure you enter as many times as you can…and share it with your friends! The raffle ends June 30, 2022, at 12 AM.
The strawberry jam/sauce recipe I shared recently in the email portion of the newsletter has been a hit with the family. So far, we’ve used it on sandwiches, toast, ice cream, angel food cake, and even on sliced bananas. I’ve put several jars in the freezer along with whole strawberries from the garden. They will taste divine this winter…if they last that long!
If you aren’t on the newsletter email list, you are missing out on fun tidbits every week. This week I have garden hacks!
We celebrated Father’s Day last Friday with all the kids and grandkids that could make it. Due to the massive heat wave we’ve had, swimming and water balloon fights were the highlight of the day. What’s your go-to activity on a hot day?
What are you reading this week? Won’t you please share in the comments? Let’s see if we can get a book discussion going. If books aren’t your thing, I’ll be happy to discuss crafts and food, too.
Peace,
Friday Finds | 24 June 2022 | Book Finds
These are a few of the books I’ll be reading and reviewing soon. Have you read them, would you like to?
Saving Piper Moonlight by Joann Keder
The last child born into the Fallen Branch Cult was destined for greatness.
That’s what Zion, the former leader told his members before his untimely death.
In the second book of the Piney Falls Mysteries series, Piper Moonlight is tired of living life on the run from the remaining Fallen Branch cult members. She decides the best place to land is in Piney Falls, Oregon, where the cult originated. At least everyone there knows her story and she’ll be safe.
Small towns have eyes
When she arrives, she finds employment under the watchful eye of Cosmo Hill, also a former Fallen Branch member, at his bakery. Cosmo doesn’t trust Piper or her story. He enlists the help of his fiancé, marketing wonder, and super sleuth Lanie Anders to uncover the truth of Piper’s past.
Lanie and Cosmo soon discover there are still shocking secrets buried within the layers of the former cult. As those secrets come to light, those who keep them will stop at nothing to stay hidden. The ugly truth of Fallen Branch will force Lanie, Cosmo, and Piper to make unthinkable choices to save themselves and the life they know in Piney Falls.
Don’t miss book two of this exciting Pacific Northwest cozy mystery series!
Read my review of book 1 Welcome to Piney Falls this week and book 2 shortly after.
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A powerful, evocative debut novel that transports the reader back to a tense period in twentieth-century America. Fortunate Son is set on a southern college campus during the turbulent spring of 1970. Reed Lawson, an ROTC cadet, struggles with the absence of his father, a Navy pilot who has been Missing in Action in Vietnam for three years.
While volunteering at a drug crisis center, Reed sets out to win the heart of a feminist co-worker who is grappling with a painful past and to rescue a troubled teenage girl from self-destruction. In the process, he is forced to confront trauma’s tragic consequences and the fragile, tangled web of human connections.
Excerpts from initial reviews: ”Takes the reader to the heart of issues of youth, identity, and responsibility.” “Change the name of the war and find the characters among us today.”
Review coming soon!
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Fish On! Lucky Luke’s Hunting Adventures by Kevin Lovegreen
A perfect day on a magical lake filled with fish. The smell of pine trees, the bright sunshine, a nice breeze: the stage is set for a great adventure! Join Luke at his grandparents’ lake cabin, tucked way back in the woods, as he experiences an amazing morning of fishing. Luke has to find the hot spots, pick the right lures, and chase a lunker that steals his lucky Basserino. It’s the kind of morning anyone who’s ever held a rod dreams of!
Grade Level: 2-6 | ATOS Book Level: 5.0 | AR Points: 1 | Lexile Measure: 840
Review soon.
Friday Finds | 24 June 2022 | Author News
Do you have a new book releasing soon, a special promotion coming up, or any other news of your author-life I can share with my readers?
In the reported book and author news this week…
Gemini Divided by Lauren Roberts was a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Awards in the Suspense category!
Geary Reid has several books available that center around fathers, husbands, and sons. You might find one of interest to you out of his many topics.
Would you like to be featured as my Author/Blogger of the Week? Please drop me a comment to let me know. That’s all it takes!
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Friday Finds | 24 June 2022 | Recipes
Cowboy Lasagna from PeppermintMochaMama
I’ve made Cowboy Beans but I’ve never heard of Cowboy Lasagna…until now. I’ll be testing this recipe on the family soon. Let me know if you try it.
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Banana Split Fruit Pizza from Lemon Tree Dwelling
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Low Carb Chicken Club Sandwich from Lyndsay from Officially Gluten Free
Friday Finds | 24 June 2022 | Creative Projects
Amazon Prime Day is almost here. Have you thought about getting a Cricut machine this year? Here’s a Masterclass book on how to use your machine.
Cricut 11 Books in One by Holly Moss
Friday Finds | 24 June 2022 | Blog Roundup
If you missed one of my reviews in the past week, here’s an easy link to find them all, or click on the image & links below. There are giveaways ranging from $75 gift cards to signed copies of books, and extras. Be sure you are entered before they expire.
The Dark Matter of Natasha by Matthew R Davis | Review for The Write Reads Tours | 4.5 of 5
What would you like to see in next week’s Friday Finds?
Thanks for reading this week. Peace & Love!
Shared on:
WOW 500 entries way more.. WTG.. Books and food what a great place to be.
Thanks for sharing the bonus tips in the email today! I never heard of the fork and soap tricks! I’ll tell my husband to see if he wants to give them a try!
I just finished reading The Union Quilters. It is mostly fiction but has some true facts. It is about the civil war from women’s view point. Sure do enjoy all of your Friday’s Finds. Have a Blessed weekend.
Thanks, Miss Trouble. I haven’t heard of that book but I’ll be looking into it. Hope you have a great weekend too.
Hi Gina – two print ARCs of my thriller “Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin” will be available as Goodreads Giveaways from July 1-17, 2022: “Kathy Reichs meets Sherlock Holmes in this gothic Midwest thriller set in southern Indiana in 1978 that seeks to unravel a deadly tangled web of lies surrounding three former high school friends, one of whom has been missing for over a decade … but which one? And why?” Thanks so much for the opportunity to include it in your author announcements ~ Mim
Yay for the good news, Mim!
1000th blog post…that is a great accomplishment! Congrats!
Thank you so much, Eric. I’m glad you were part of the journey!
I’m always impressed with the book selections but then you add food and crafts too! Thanks Gina for all the fun opportunities! I’m sure not a single person who knows you is bored!
Great post, Gina. My daughter has a Cricut and her birthday is coming up, so I might see if I can find that book for her. I also love the sound of the cowboy lasagna. A good meal with all the food groups with a salad, perfect. I like that I was able to catch up on several of your posts that I didn’t see this week. Have a wonderful weekend. Oh, BTW, our favourite activity on hot days is to swim, blow bubbles and eat freezies.