Friday Finds | July 11, 2025 (The Fashionably Late Edition!)
✨ Psst… It’s a Saturday Kind of Friday Finds! ✨
Sometimes the best things arrive fashionably late—and this week’s Friday Finds is no exception. This Friday Finds July 11 2025 roundup brings you a mix of indie author spotlights, a book giveaway roundup, a quick summer recipe, and a creative weaving craft for your weekend reset.
So grab your favorite drink, get comfy, and dive into this special Saturday edition of Friday Finds July 11 2025—it’s worth the wait! 😉
📚 Book Blog Roundup | Friday Finds July 11, 2025 📚
A fast-paced fantasy filled with magic, dragons, and a fierce underdog hero. Read my review of Words of Power by Shami Stovall—plus enter the $25 giveaway!!
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A seductive vampire romance where danger and desire collide. The Cardinal Code by Avery Sterling, is dark, steamy, and impossible to put down. $15 Gift Card Raffle!
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Mad Season: Elles Garity’s Story (Book 1) by Gregory Armstrong is an emotionally charged literary fiction debut that explores grief, identity, and long-buried family truths. Don’t miss the $25 gift card giveaway
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One soul. Two timelines. A universe of possibilities. Beyond the Light of the Willow Tree by Daniel E. Chambrello blends inspirational fiction with fantasy and historical adventure.
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Author Harold Phifer shares the twisted legacy of Aunt Kathy in My Bully, My Aunt, & Her Final Gift—a wickedly funny memoir about family trauma, hard-earned healing, and one unforgettable funeral. Bonus: his no-filter guest post gives readers a peek at what he’s writing next.
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In Michele Clarizio’s gripping YA thriller, The Price of Truth, secrets unravel, romance sparks, and the cost of uncovering the truth may be more than Karis can bear. Includes a giveaway!
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I’ll be spotlighting an independent author each week this summer.
📣 Meet Indie Author ~ Jennifer Ivy Walker
This week, I’m thrilled to spotlight Jennifer Ivy Walker, an author who blends legend, romance, and myth into spellbinding tales. Whether she’s conjuring Celtic magic or reimagining medieval folklore, her stories sweep you into worlds where passion burns, danger lurks, and strong heroines take center stage. 
If you love historical fantasy with a dark twist—and a touch of enchantment—you’ll want to explore Jennifer’s beautifully layered books. Keep reading for more about her series, upcoming projects, and why she writes stories that shimmer with both heart and history.
I've reviewed so many of Jennifer's historical fantasy books. Click here for the complete list!
🎉 Friday Finds Fun Time Giveaway 🎉
Rosie Russell won the last Fun Time Giveaway. As her prize, she chose to have me review her latest book. Watch for my Magical Fashion Show Contest review to appear here soon.
📖 New Question
If your bookshelf came to life like Toy Story, which book would be the troublemaker?
Answer this week’s question in the comments for a chance to win the monthly prize!
One lucky commenter from any July 2025 Friday Finds post will be randomly selected to win a surprise gift.
🗓️ Entries close July 31st at 5:00 p.m. (CST). Winner announced August 1st!
📖 TBR Spotlight for July 11, 2025
Looking for giveaways or summer reads in Friday Finds July 11 2025? You’re in the right place.
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Two teen girls fall in love and fight for survival in an abandoned bookstore weeks before another cataclysmic storm threatens to bring about the end of the world in this unforgettable YA debut. Perfect for fans of Station Eleven and The Last of Us.
🍴 Foodie Fun
🥗 Clear-the-Fridge Summer Pasta Salad
Need a post-holiday reset? This easy, colorful pasta salad is perfect for using up leftovers and garden veggies. Quick to make and great for lunch prep, potlucks, or lazy weeknight dinners!
🛒 Ingredients:
- 8 oz pasta (rotini, bowtie, etc.)
- 1 cup chopped veggies (bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, leftover corn, etc.)
- ½ cup diced cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or feta)
- ½ cup chopped deli meat or rotisserie chicken (optional)
- ¼ cup sliced olives or pickles
- ¼ cup Italian or ranch dressing (or homemade vinaigrette)
- Salt, pepper, and fresh herbs to taste
👩🍳 Instructions:
- Cook and cool the pasta.
- Toss all the ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Enjoy cold!
✨ Bonus Tip: Add a spoonful of leftover dip (like ranch or hummus) into your dressing for extra flavor!
📌 Click here to download your printable recipe card!
🛍️ Helpful Tools (Affiliate Links)
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—thank you for supporting the blog!
🎨 Creative Finds
Pin loom weaving is a wonderful and relaxing craft, and it’s so much more versatile than just coasters and squares! Here are some unique and creative pin loom weaving project ideas to spark inspiration beyond the basics.
Thanks for letting me pop into your inbox a little later than usual this week! I hope today’s Saturday Finds added a spark of joy, a pinch of creativity, and maybe a new book to your TBR pile.
As always, I love hearing from you—whether you tried the recipe, wove something fun, or just want to say hi. Until next week (on actual Friday… probably), stay cozy, stay curious, and keep finding the magic in the little things. 💛
Wishing you good reads, good eats, and creative fun!
Gina
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If my bookshelf came to life, the troublemaker book would be 23 Minutes in Hell. Talk about scary!!
[…] ➡️ Catch up on the complete July 11th edition here. […]
Hi Gina, I'm excited to hear your thoughts on my new book, "Magical Fashion Show Contest."
My most challenging book I'm reading right now is over 500 pages. I hope to finish before the summer ends. Phew.
Enjoy your Sunday!
Rosie
Rosie's book is awesome! I can't wait for her fun book launch this week on her blog!
The troublemaker book in my bookshelf would be the old homeschool math book from when my kids were in school because, well, math! Lol!
If my bookshelf came to life all of my books would cause trouble in one way or the other especially like the book I'm reading now which is Slapshot by T.L. Hamilton